A Beloit couple accused of locking five young children in a room covered in feces for up to 18 hours a day are bound over for trial

27-year-old Alexander Last and his girlfriend 25-year-old Crystal Polhill each face five counts of neglecting a child under six years old.

According to the criminal complaint, Beloit Police were dispatched to a residence on the 1900 block of Nelson Avenue just after 8:00 p.m. on June 16th to conduct a welfare check on some children.

Officer’s could smell the children’s room from 20 feet away. It had a padlock on the outside of the door. Inside officers found a single, fecal-stained mattress on the floor, along with fecal matter smeared on the walls and all of the toys. There was a single bucket for the kids to use the bathroom.

Police were told that up to five kids ranging in age from two years-old to eight, stay in the room. A newborn and one-year-old share another room with Polhill and Last.

Polhill waived her right to a preliminary hearing on the charges on September 10th, and had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on October 2nd.

Last waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Friday and plead not guilty.