Racine police say a 34-year-old man was running a crack cocaine operation out of the home he shared with four young children who had easy access to the drugs and were living in deplorable conditions.
Joshua Jenkins, of Racine, was charged Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count of 
possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and four felony counts of second degree recklessly endangering safety. If convicted, he faces up to 52-1/2 years in prison and/or up to $125,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, police served a search warrant Wednesday at Jenkins’ home and discovered several plastic baggies with quantities of crack cocaine, a digital scale, and $1,472 in the pocket of pants found lying on a bedroom floor. Investigators also found a man’s wallet with a variety of ID’s for Jenkins.
Officers say the baggies of cocaine were in plain view and within easy reach of the four children – ages six to nine – who also live in the home with Jenkins and a woman. Conditions in the home were described as “deplorable” in reports. The kids were sleeping on two filthy mattresses without sheets and using couch cushions for pillows. At least 10 rubber car tires were stacked in the children’s bedrooms, and when she was asked about the condition of the home, the woman first said her washer and dryer weren’t hooked up yet but didn’t have an answer about the tires.
Police reports indicate Racine County Human Services was notified about the conditions of the home and the presence of drugs.
Jenkins is being held in the Racine County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond and was ordered to provide a DNA sample. He will next be in court Sept. 23 for his preliminary hearing.