Man accused of keeping sons in filth due in court

A father accused of neglecting his four sons and keeping them in a filthy Denver apartment is expected in court.

A court hearing is scheduled Thursday for Wayne Sperling, who was charged with child abuse after authorities found the boys in an apartment filled with cat feces and flies in October 2013. The children, aged 2 to 6, could only communicate in grunts, were malnourished and were not toilet trained. Prosecutors say it was among the worst cases they had ever seen.

Sperling’s wife, Lorinda Bailey, was sentenced last week to 90 days in jail followed by five years of probation after pleading guilty to the charge.

Prosecutors say the boys are improving in foster care. But they still are not potty trained and have never asked about their parents.