The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
Four adults from a Florida family with multiple adopted children were arrested for allegedly locking them in cages and physically and sexually abusing them while providing proper care to their biological kids.
According to reports, a family from Arizona with five biological children often provided foster care for youths in need. They also privately adopted four children, the youngest of whom is 7, and the oldest is 16. The family recently moved into a trailer in Columbia County, Florida, with their sizeable family. While at a church camp near their new residence, one of the children reportedly got caught with a Taser, and when the parents were told, they said it was a toy. An official reported the incident to the authorities, and the investigation that followed reportedly uncovered a disturbing situation.
When the police talked to someone from the church who had visited the family’s home, the individual reported to child welfare that what they saw led them to believe the adopted children were being abused by the parents and two adult family members. They listed multiple reasons for their assertions, including that the adopted children did not receive proper education, were unaware of their last names and birthdays, appeared to be forced to perform labor, and were not treated as part of the family.
Child services visited the residence, and they reported that they talked to the children with their adoptive parents present, but quickly told the worker they wanted an attorney before they would allow further communication with them. After the youngsters were removed from the home, the authorities reported that they gave similar accounts of the ways they were abused, such as being trapped under a bunkbed in a makeshift cage, and being denied food and schooling. One of their former foster children was interviewed, and she accused the father of sexually abusing her.
On July 22, all four suspects were taken into custody and booked into the Columbia County Detention Facility. They are each facing felony charges of aggravated child abuse. According to jail records, at the time this was written, they were still incarcerated without bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a domestic violence offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.