Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 22, 1994                   TAG: 9404220213
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO                                 LENGTH: Short

PARENTS OF KIDS FOUND IN FILTH ARE CONVICTED

Cook County Judge James Linn said the children's living conditions were ``barely fit for an animal.''

Five mothers and one father were convicted in the case that began Feb. 1 when police looking for drugs instead found children huddled beneath dirty blankets on the floor. One child was competing with a dog for food.

Each parent faces up to one year in prison, a $1,000 fine and two years of probation for the misdemeanors.

The mother of a 19th child faces a separate trial on criminal abuse charges. Twenty-eight people lived in the apartment, including four mothers who were sisters. ``I look at pictures of the bathroom and I don't know

how you could expect to clean someone in a room so dirty,'' the judge said.

Gregory Turner, the father, said he didn't think being dirty was a crime. Other family members would not comment.

The parents will try to regain custody of their children in juvenile court on May 14. The children are living in foster homes.