Daughter-in-law of DFS supervisor to plead guilty to child abuse

The daughter-in-law of a former supervisor with the Department of Family Services has agreed to plead guilty to a felony child abuse charge.

If 25-year-old Veronica Holt completes between three and five years probation and receives an honorable discharge, that count of child abuse, neglect or endangerment would be reduced to a gross misdemeanor.

Prosecutors said that her mother-in-law, Jody Holt, was working for the child welfare service while she kept her own grandchildren in a home carpeted with filth and failed to report her son and daughter-in-law for possible child endangerment.

The 56-year-old former supervisor at Child Haven and long-time Clark County employee and her son, Joshua Holt, 27, are awaiting a court hearing next month on child abuse charges.

Authorities found the Holts northwest valley home “a significant threat to the safety of the children,” ages 2 and 5, police and court records indicate.

A Family and Youth Services manager visited Jody Holt’s home in the 5600 block of North Riley Street in March, after Child Protective Services received a report of “environmental neglect,” according to police.

The northwest valley home was “saturated with dirty clothes, garbage, feces, auto parts, junk, glass, cleaning supplies and miscellaneous debris covering virtually every living space with the exception of the grandmother’s bedroom,” according to a police report.

Police said the two children lived in the home with their parents, Joshua Holt, and Veronica Holt, admitted drug addicts who quarreled often.

Jody Holt’s last day as an employee with the county was March 19, county officials said.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker