A Sarasota man is facing three felony child neglect charges after police say his children were found living in dangerous and unsanitary conditions on two separate visits to the family’s home.
According to the Sarasota Police Department, officers first encountered 48-year-old Tony Mayner in September 2025 while the Homeless Outreach Team was patrolling the 1700 block of 23rd Street. Officers stopped at the home after recognizing a man asleep on the porch who said he was friends with Mayner.
Through the windows, officers saw the home was in severe disarray and asked Mayner for permission to check on his children, ages 10, 11 and 14. Inside, officers found piles of trash, empty beer cans and various types of bugs throughout the residence. An empty above-ground swimming pool sat in the living room, and the strong smell of gasoline raised safety concerns.
Police say the refrigerators held almost no edible food, and the home had no furniture other than dirty beds. Mayner reportedly told officers his children had not been enrolled in school for two years.
Officers gathered clothing, shoes, school supplies, food, water and other essentials for the children through community partners. They also helped get the children registered for school and worked to obtain furniture for the home. The Department of Children and Families was notified and a formal report was filed.
On November 6, officers returned for a welfare check after receiving complaints that the children had again stopped attending school. Mayner allowed them inside. Officers reported cockroaches running across floors and walls, wood rot throughout the house, a strong mold odor and trash piled on surfaces. Bedrooms were described as dirty and covered in old spills and food debris.
Police noted there was almost no edible food in the home beyond raw patties, while two refrigerators were stocked mainly with alcoholic beverages. Mayner also said one of his children had been bitten by the family dog the night before and had not been taken for medical care.
Officers say they had made several attempts over time to help Mayner with cleaning supplies, food and support services, but the conditions continued to deteriorate. Mayner was arrested during the November visit and interviewed at police headquarters. During the investigation, he consented to a drug test administered by DCF agents, which police say tested positive for methamphetamine. He was booked into the Sarasota County Jail and bonded out the next day.
The children have been released to a family member following DCF guidance.
Police say the case involved cooperation from multiple partners, including the Homeless Outreach Team, Criminal Investigations Division, Sarasota Housing Authority, Sarasota County School Board Police, Animal Services and several local nonprofits.
Florida law requires anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
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