There are new developments in the neglect case of foreign exchange students in Lackawanna County.
Prosecutors have decided to file charges against the woman who coordinated the foreign exchange program in the Scranton area and there is a warrant out for her arrest.
A house on Myrtle Street in Scranton is just one of the houses prosecutors said Edna Burgette placed foreign exchange students in for housing, forcing them to live in deplorable conditions.
She is now facing several felony counts of endangering the welfare of children.
Lackawanna County prosecutors are looking for Burgette. A warrant has been issued for her arrest, charging her with five felony counts of endangering children.
Investigators said Burgette, who was working for the San Franciso-based foreign exchange program, Aspect, placed at least five foreign exchange students in homes with unlivable conditions over an extended period of time, including her own home here Myrtle Street. Prosecutors said it was filled with dog feces.
"It goes far beyond a dirty house. Some of the housing conditions were horrible but it also includes lack of food, lack of proper nurishment. It includes some of these children being placed in homes with felons, drug users," said Assistant District Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
The high school students, who were between 15 and 18 years old, testified in front of a grand jury in May in Lackawanna County.
According to testimony, all the students asked Burgette for better housing and were met with threats to be sent back to their home countries if they complained.
"It's just disgraceful to think these children come to America for the experience because I'm sure they're told what a great country we are and how we live such good lives and we're so advantaged," Olshefski added.
One of the students told the grand jury she planned for years to participate in the foreign exchange program and her parents paid $11,000 for her to come here.
Prosecutors have decided to file charges against the woman who coordinated the foreign exchange program in the Scranton area and there is a warrant out for her arrest.
A house on Myrtle Street in Scranton is just one of the houses prosecutors said Edna Burgette placed foreign exchange students in for housing, forcing them to live in deplorable conditions.
She is now facing several felony counts of endangering the welfare of children.
Lackawanna County prosecutors are looking for Burgette. A warrant has been issued for her arrest, charging her with five felony counts of endangering children.
Investigators said Burgette, who was working for the San Franciso-based foreign exchange program, Aspect, placed at least five foreign exchange students in homes with unlivable conditions over an extended period of time, including her own home here Myrtle Street. Prosecutors said it was filled with dog feces.
"It goes far beyond a dirty house. Some of the housing conditions were horrible but it also includes lack of food, lack of proper nurishment. It includes some of these children being placed in homes with felons, drug users," said Assistant District Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
The high school students, who were between 15 and 18 years old, testified in front of a grand jury in May in Lackawanna County.
According to testimony, all the students asked Burgette for better housing and were met with threats to be sent back to their home countries if they complained.
"It's just disgraceful to think these children come to America for the experience because I'm sure they're told what a great country we are and how we live such good lives and we're so advantaged," Olshefski added.
One of the students told the grand jury she planned for years to participate in the foreign exchange program and her parents paid $11,000 for her to come here.
