Wayne Cunard

AKRON, Ohio -- Akron parents pleaded guilty to neglecting their five children, including a 4-year-old disabled boy found with a dead cockroach in his breathing tube.

Wayne Cunard, 46, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of child endangering and his wife, Christian Cunard, 42, pleaded guilty Thursday to five counts of felony child endangering. Prosecutors believe she is the main offender.

Both are scheduled for sentencing Aug. 10 before Summit County Common Pleas Judge Amy Corrigal Jones.

Wayne Cunard will choose between several options for his sentence. He could be sentenced to one year in prison, which would give him three more months of incarceration before he's free.

He could also agree to an 18-month prison sentence with the stipulation that he can apply for judicial release 30 days after the hearing. He could also opt to have the attorneys argue in front of the judge.

Summit County Children Services first alerted police Sept. 14 about the condition of their children who range in age from 1 year old to 15 years old. Social workers said the children were neglected.

A joint investigation with police found the children were not regularly fed and all were underweight, court records say.

Among the accusations against the parents include that the parents tied a 6-year-old boy to a chair with a rope. Social workers reported finding the cockroach inside the breathing tube of the 4 year old who suffers from cystic fibrosis, according to court records.

The family's home was found to be in "deplorable" condition and was infested with pests, according to court records. Christian Cunard was charged in 2014 with several housing code violations and failing to provide a sanitary environment.