By CHRISTOPHER LENOIS

RESERVE – Officials from the Office of Community Services and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office descended upon a home in Reserve on Thursday morning, after being tipped off to “deplorable living conditions” by a family member.

Joe Baloney, 55, and his 31-year-old daughter, Denise Jackson, were arrested on charges of neglect because of the living conditions of the home they shared with their seven children. All the children were home at the time of arrest, saying they did not attend school because they did not have uniforms.

Officers at the scene declined comment, other than to say the inside of the house was “a big mess.”

The house had running water, but electricity had to be run in from a box located in a shed structure in the backyard.

The six boys and one girl were remanded into custody of the OCS, who made the call to the sheriff’s office. Local OCS officials refused to comment on any matters regarding the case.