A West Virginia couple is again in media headlines after a choose revoked their bond on prices of human trafficking. Indictment paperwork reportedly accuse Donald Ray Lantz and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, each Caucasian, of enslaving at the least 5 adopted Black kids, per MetroNews.

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Particulars On The Preliminary Arrest Of The West Virginia Couple

Based on the outlet, the replace occurred practically two weeks in the past, on June 11. Native legislation enforcement first arrested Donald, 63, and Jeanne, 62, in October 2023. On the time, a wellness examine at their West Virginia house revealed that the couple had two of their adopted youngsters locked inside a shed on their property.

Neither Donald nor Jeanne have been at house when deputies first arrived. Deputies discovered a 3rd Black baby, aged 9, contained in the West Virginia couple’s fundamental house. Three hours into their wellness examine, Donald Ray Lantz arrived house with an 11-year-old Black boy. An hour after him, Jeanne pulled as much as the home and led deputies to the final baby, a 6-year-old Black lady who was with acquaintances from the couple’s church.

The 16-year-old lady reportedly informed deputies the couple had her and the 14-year-old boy locked within the shed for 12 hours with no meals. Moreover, the 14-year-old boy had “open sores on his naked ft,” per courtroom docs that MetroNews cited. The teenagers’ bodily situation included physique odor and an unclean look.

Jeanne Kay Whitefeather beforehand informed the courtroom the shed was a “teenage clubhouse” that was not locked. Nonetheless, studies from deputies painted a unique image. The shed reportedly had no working water and solely an RV porta-potty. Moreover, the teenagers revealed that they have been compelled to sleep on the concrete ground with no padding or mattress.

The indictment reportedly cited neighbors who claimed that “the kids have been compelled to carry out farm labor and weren’t permitted contained in the residence.” It’s unclear who known as native authorities for the wellness examine.

Choose Revokes Couple’s Bond For THIS Cause

Donald and Jeanne face a number of prices associated to human trafficking of a minor baby, use of a minor baby in compelled labor, and baby neglect with threat of bodily damage or dying. Regardless of proof and eyewitness accounts, the West Virginia couple pleaded not responsible to the fees.

Authorities stored them locked up on the South Central Regional Jail. Their unique bond was set at $200,000 every. They paid it in February after the sale of an 80-acre ranch in Washington for $725,000.

Nonetheless, Kanawha County prosecutors argued in courtroom that the cash for his or her money bonds was “contraband straight or not directly used or supposed to be used” of violating human trafficking legal guidelines.

Earlier this month, Kanawha County Circuit Choose Maryclaire Akers discovered benefit within the prosecutors’ arguments. Akers revoked their bond, calling it inadequate, and raised it to $500,000 every.

In the meantime, the Kanawha County Circuit Courtroom Clerk’s workplace is holding on to the cash the West Virginia couple paid in February. Choose Akers believes the cash needs to be positioned in a belief for the minor victims within the case.

“[The indictment] alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the usage of compelled labor,” Choose Akers stated. “Human rights violations particular to the truth that these kids have been focused due to their race and so they have been used principally as slaves from what the indictment alleges.”

The West Virginia couple are due again in courtroom on September 9 for his or her trial.

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