Three minor children connected to a Garrett County child-neglect investigation were placed in the care and custody of the Department of Social Services, and five McHenry residents face charges, according to Garrett News. The arrests followed a search warrant executed along Ginseng Springs Lane. Garrett County Sheriff Bryson Meyers announced the arrests.
The sheriff’s office Criminal Investigation Division initiated the case, and its detectives investigated the neglect allegations and executed the warrant, WV News reported. Sheriff’s office patrol deputies and animal control division deputies also assisted with the warrant.
Five Arrests, Identical Charges
The investigation also involved Child Protective Services investigators, the Garrett County Department of Social Services and the Garrett County State’s Attorney’s Office, along with sheriff’s office personnel, according to Garrett News.
All five people arrested face the same slate of charges: three counts of child neglect and three counts of contributing to the condition of a child. Christina Lynn Moats, 26, of McHenry, and Carl Micheal Moats, 42, also of McHenry, were both booked on those counts. Chrystal Joy Sheckels, 59, John Patrick Sheckels, 49, and John Patrick Sheckels Jr., 27 — all listed as McHenry residents — were arrested on identical charges as well, the report states.
Children Placed in State Custody, Suspects Released
The five defendants were taken to the Garrett County Detention Center and later released on their own recognizance after appearing before a district court commissioner. That disposition was reported by Garrett News and the outlet. All five are presumed innocent.
The report does not explain what prompted the investigation or describe conditions investigators found at the property.
Maryland out-of-home care in context
For statewide context, the Maryland Department of Human Services says approximately 3,800 children and teens are in out-of-home care. Separately, the Governor’s Office for Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, working with child-serving agencies, counted 6,083 youth who experienced at least one out-of-home placement in fiscal year 2023. These are statewide figures, not counts for Garrett County or the children in this case.
Sheriff Credits Multi-Agency Response
Sheriff Meyers said the case required a coordinated effort among multiple agencies, and he thanked detectives, child protective services and the Garrett County State's Attorney's Office for their work on the investigation. He also commended the personnel involved in protecting the children and pursuing justice in the case, the outlet reported.
No additional details about the identities of a sixth individual or the timeline of the search warrant, arrests or court appearances were included in the report. The case remains an active matter for Garrett County authorities as it moves through the local court system.
