David and Louise Turpin pleaded not guilty to charges of torture, child abuse and a “lewd act on a child,” in a Riverside, Calif. court on Thursday afternoon
The parents were charged with holding their 13 children hostage and keeping them “chained” to furniture as they starved and beat them in their home.
Their court appointed attorney spoke outside the courthouse on January 18, 2018, defending the couple the District Attorney called “depraved,” saying: “Our clients are presumed innocent. This case will not be tried through the media.”
lewd act on a child by force or fear or duress,” and DA Michael Hestrin explained the “Lewd act is in reference to a lewd act that David Turpin touched one of the victims in a lewd way by force or fear.” He confirmed that the victim was a female.
Twelve counts of torture were filed against both parents. “We are not charging torture on the two-year-old,” the DA said at a press conference earlier in the day. “I don’t know why but apparently the two-year-old was getting enough to eat.”
Both Turpins were charged with seven counts of abuse of a dependent adult, six counts of child abuse or neglect and 12 counts of false imprisonment. Their bail was increased to $13 million each.
The DA said that the children, who were homeschooled, were allowed to write in journals that were seized by police. The journals would be used as “very significant, strong evidence of what went on in that house.”
announced a fundraising website for the victims.
The Riverside University Health System Foundation has just announced that it has opened a support fund for the 13 siblings rescued from their Perris home earlier this week. 100% of funds will go to the siblings. Click link for more info & to donate- https://t.co/05GkAxefif
— Riverside County Sheriff's Dept (@RSO) January 18, 2018
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