New court date set for Tulsa parents charged in naked child in dog cage case

TULSA - Two north Tulsa parents arrested last month after police found their children naked and one locked in a cage have been set for preliminary hearings.

Court records indicate William Lewallen, 47, charged with child neglect did not show for his scheduled court appearance Wednesday as he was in the hospital. He was, however, represented by his attorney.

His wife, Erin, 27, also charged with child neglect, appeared with her attorney.

The judge ordered both parents back to court for their hearings on Jan. 16 next year.

On Nov. 11, police called to the Lewallen's home after a neighbor discovered a 4-year-old outside naked found William passed out in bed and apparently impaired.

One of the children, an 18-month-old girl, was found naked screaming naked in a cage and covered in feces. Also in the home was a 3-year-old child. The 4-year-old found outside was the oldest of the three children.

Police immediately arrested William for child neglect, and his wife on the same charge two days later as she was not there at the time of his arrest.

Erin Lewallen has since filed for divorce and has been trying to get custody of the children in DHS care.