A married couple, of Lower Macungie Township, is charged with allegedly endangering the welfare of two teenagers in their care, according to a news release dated Jan. 27.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan charged Joshua D. Dechant, 36 and Tracy A. Dechant, 42, with two felony counts each of endangering the welfare of children.

According to court documents available online Jan. 27, neither posted bail and were in Lehigh County jail on felony charges.

Charges stem in part from an incident Jan. 22, according to authorities.

The incident was detailed as follows in the news release.

Pennsylvania State Police troopers responded to a residence in the 1200 block of Divot Drive, Lower Macungie Township, for a “nearly naked 15-year-old boy running around the neighborhood,” according to the news release.

An affidavit of probable cause made available through the district attorney’s office noted troopers arrived at approximately 7:16 p.m.

The teen told authorities his stepfather, identified as Joshua Dechant, allegedly “forced him to go outside naked as a form of punishment.”

The affidavit of probable cause placed the temperature at about two degrees Fahrenheit at the time.

The teen told troopers he was outside for approximately 20 minutes and his feet were described as “extremely red from the cold and snow.”

Authorities described the teen as “very malnourished and extremely thin.”

A neighbor told troopers the teen came seeking help and “once inside the home, would not stop eating,” according to the affidavit.

The teen was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, troopers went to the teen’s residence in the 1200 block of Divot Drive and “made contact” with Joshua and Tracy Dechant.

Tracy Dechant was on speaker phone with troopers at that time, according to the affidavit.

On Jan. 23, authorities returned to the residence and located the second teen there. The teen was described as “extremely malnourished,” “not wearing socks and his feet appeared dark red/purple.”

The teen was taken to the hospital where his injuries were described as “consistent with kneeling for an extended period of time” and his feet “had been exposed to cold for a significant period of time,” according to the affidavit.

The teens told authorities their mother and stepfather allegedly subjected them to multiple types of abuse in the home, according to the news release.

Alleged abuse included the denial of food and water; forcing them to walk around the home naked, forcing them to stand outside naked in freezing temperatures and forcing the twins to sleep on the floor with only a single blanket to share.

Detailed in the affidavit were instances of abuse in which the teens were forced to write the statement “weak men are abusive and spiteful, strong men are protective and loving” hundreds of times as punishment.

The first teen also told authorities of allegedly being thrown to the floor by Joshua Dechant at various times.

Both teens were admitted to the hospital.

The first teen was described as weighing approximately 53 pounds when admitted. His twin was described as weighing approximately 55 pounds.

“Medical personnel related that boys of their size and age should weigh approximately 143 pounds. Both victims are hospitalized due to their dire medical situation,” according to the news release.

Medical records show in the past eight years, both victims gained just 10 pounds.

Other children in the home were placed with family, according to authorities.