Stillwater couple jailed on child neglect charges

   STILLWATER — A Stillwater couple, whose residence was allegedly the site of drug sales, have been accused of exposing an 8-year-old to drugs and allowing their home to deteriorate to a level of filth hazardous to the health of the child.

   Richard Allen Foster Jr., 44, could be imprisoned for a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life if convicted of child neglect after a former felony conviction for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, on which he remains on probation. Qwashay Daishonny Syess, 32, could be given up to life in prison if convicted of child neglect.

   The couple have also been accused of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, which are misdemeanors carrying a maximum penalty of two years in jail on conviction. They remain jailed pending an Aug. 3 court appearance at which they can seek a preliminary hearing on their felony child neglect charge.

   Their home was being watched since “We recently garnered information drugs were being sold from the residence,” Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson alleged in an affidavit.

   After officers observed what appeared to be a drug sale on June 26, Stillwater Police Detective Brett Moore conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at which his K9 partner alerted to the odor of illegal drugs, the affidavit alleged.

   The driver had a package of methamphetamine that he said he just purchased at the residence, the affidavit alleged. He was charged with misdemeanor drug possession, court records show.

   Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit that after he obtained a search warrant for the residence, no one answered, so “I breached the door with a ram and began announcing our presence as we cleared each room.

   “A small child (8) was located in the living room, and I could hear voices coming from the northeast bedroom. Richard Foster and Qwashay Syess were ordered from the room and detained in handcuffs.

   “The house was in deplorable condition. Bugs and filth were located throughout the house. I observed hamburger meat and raw food on the nightstand that was not chilled. The kitchen was disgusting with what appeared to be dried blood and filth stuck all over the inside of the refrigerator. I did not observe food inside,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.

   After the detective contacted Payne County Department of Human Services, the child was taken to a family member’s residence by DHS, the affidavit said.

   “Numerous glass pipes and 2×2 baggies with residue were located in the bedroom along with a small amount of methamphetamine. One pipe with methamphetamine residue was located on the dresser on the south wall of the bedroom that was 3.5 feet tall and easily accessible to a child. Other paraphernalia was located in a purse with Qwashay’s identification on it,” the affidavit alleged.