The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
The parents of a 15-year-old girl are facing many charges after allegedly locking her in a chicken coop for months and feeding her only packages of ramen.
It was reported that last September, Child Protective Services was contacted by a 15-year-old girl who told them that her parents had been locking her in a chicken coop for several months. They notified the Farmington Police Department to report the situation, which reportedly involved a couple who was believed to be abusing their teenage daughter, and an investigation was opened. The police learned that the parents of the 15-year-old had more than one child in their Farmington home. The couple allegedly treated the other children well, but they were reportedly subjecting the young woman to horrible abuse.
According to reports, the teen was locked inside a chicken coop for long periods, even during times of inclement weather, in which she was forced to stay on her feet. She was reportedly fed nothing but packages of ramen, though the rest of the family ate normal meals. Additionally, her parents allegedly only let her use the bathroom twice a day. The alleged abuse reportedly continued for months before CPS was alerted. Approximately five months after the investigation began, detectives believed they had enough evidence to prove the claims of abuse were true.
On February 18, both parents were taken into custody and booked into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. They are each facing seven third-degree felony counts of abuse of a child, and seven fourth-degree felony counts of conspiracy. Currently, they are being held without bail.
It was reported that the girl was removed from the home, but there is currently no mention of where the other children are.
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.