Kathy E <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Los Angeles County officials say three young siblings were jailed for 12
days and shackled for their court appearances after refusing to testify
against their father and escaping twice from foster care.
The Los Angeles Times reports the two boys, ages 12 and 14, and the
14-year-old girl were removed from their parents' custody after their
father was accused of sexually molesting the girl.
The children were held in Los Angeles County's Central Juvenile Hall
after Judge Lance Ito issued warrants for their arrests as material
witnesses in the trial of their father, Jose Flores, who is in county
jail.
Prosecutors called the shackling of the children for their court
appearance ``an aberration,'' and the childrens' attorney said they were
furious with the treatment.
After the children sat through the hearing in shackles, Ito requested
they be transferred to less restrictive setting, but stressed that they
would return to court.
The children were transferred to an El Monte children's shelter. A
spokesman for the county probation department said department policy
requires the shackling of anyone deemed a flight risk. The childrens'
attorneys say the siblings have fled foster homes twice since being
removed from their home in September.
Both times, the children were concealed by their mother, who urged
them to recant any allegations against their father. The children's
mother, Ana Flores, suffers from ovarian cancer.
Court officials say they would normally offer to release the children
on bail, but they are wards of the county and have nowhere to live.
--
Kathy E
"I can only please one person a day, today is NOT your day, and tomorrow
isn't looking too good for you either"
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