Former Springs councilman pleads guilty to child neglect

A former Colorado Springs city councilman pleaded guilty to charges of child neglect Monday morning.

Charles Wingate was charged along with his wife, Sharon Starkey.

The two were cited last May after police say they found the couple’s 13-year-old son home alone, living in filthy conditions. The boy was naked and told officers he was home-schooled and did not remember being outside of the house.

Officers said they found live and dead rodents, human feces and stacks of trash in the home.

The boy was taken by Child Protective Services, and the home was condemned.

In court on Monday morning, Wingate admitted the conditions were “deplorable” and “not acceptable” for his son.

A judge sentenced him to two years of unsupervised probation. He’ll also have to pay court costs.