Jun. 17—WILKES-BARRE — A former Dallas Borough man accused of living in a house of filth with his family pled guilty Tuesday to endangering children.
Bruce Myers, 62, was scheduled for a jury trial before Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas but instead, pled guilty to four counts of endangering the welfare of children.
Prosecutors withdrew two counts of child pornography, four counts of reckless endangerment and a single count of criminal use of communication facility against Myers.
Detectives with the Luzerne County district attorney’s office uncovered conditions of the house on Machell Avenue when a search warrant was executed on May 5, 2023. At the time, Myers resided at the house with his wife and four children.
The search warrant was served while investigating Cyber tips related to the downloading of child sexual abuse materials.
“As investigators entered the rear door, investigators were hit with the worst stench ever,” according to the criminal complaint filed against Myers.
The complaint says detectives had to “fight their way through garbage, animal feces, dirty clothing and rotting food that littered the floor and hallways.” Interior doors had to be forced open due to debris piled against them.
Dallas Borough officials in May 2023, condemned the house and four children were taken into protective custody by Luzerne County Children and Youth Services.
Several dogs and cats were also removed from the house.
Myers, who remains jailed at the county correctional facility, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20.