KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A Department of Children and Families worker has been arrested on drug charges and child neglect after deputies say they found her home in "deplorable" condition.
[PICS: DCF worker's "deplorable" home]
Kysa Donawa, 41, a child protective investigator at DCF, along with her husband Randy, faces charges of production of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and six counts of child neglect.
Deputies said they were serving a search warrant at Donawa's home on Hollyhock Court in Kissimmee on Friday when they found 26 marijuana plants, 8 grams of marijuana, counterfeit money and a handgun.
Trash was on the floor and overflowing from the garbage cans and roaches, flies and spiders were on the walls and in the beds, according to deputies.
Agents said six children ranging from 6 years old to 17 years old were living at the home, although they weren't home at the time of the incident. DCF was contacted and the children were put in their care, deputies said.
A judge on Monday determined that the children will be placed with their grandmother and that the Donawas will have supervised visitation.
Kysa Donawa's employment was terminated with DCF when the pending arrest was brought to the agency's attention, according to officials.
She was hired on May 2 as an Other Personal Services Child Protective Investigator and was not carrying a caseload at the time of her dismissal, DCF said.
"The actions of this former employee do not reflect the dedicated employees that represent this agency professionally and positively every day," DCF said in a statement released to the media.
It's not clear if Donawa had previous issues in her time at DCF.