[StBernard] Malnourished St. Bernard teen in mother's custody

[Westley Annis]

Malnourished St. Bernard teen in mother's custody

WWL.com Reporting
 
An emaciated 14-year-old boy found in an RV in St. Bernard Parish is now in
his mother's custody, and the father has bonded out of jail.

St. Bernard Sheriff's officials say the boy's mom traveled from Arizona and
was awarded custody by a St. Bernard Parish judge. Meanwhile, the father has
posted bond.

A St. Bernard Parish Ward Constable discovered the boy while serving an
eviction notice in eastern St. Bernard Parish. The teen weighed only 60
pounds and had untreated injuries to his leg and elbow. The boy apparently
has not been enrolled in school for the past four years.

The mother said she hadn't seen her son in years, and only had limited phone
contact with him. She said her father tightly controlled any access to her
son.

The father, Daniel Ballard, 30, faces felony charges of cruelty to a
juvenile. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released from jail.