Five out of six suspects accused of being involved in a Pulaski County case where a toddler was locked in a box for long periods of time appeared in court for the first time Friday.
Each of the six are charged with failure to report that the 3-year-old girl was being abused. 19-year-old Michael Meeks, 38-year-old Thelma Meeks, 18-year-old Shawn Griffin, 19-year-old Anna Senesac, and 18-year-old Timothy Senesac each pleaded not guilty, according to ABC 57.
36-year-old Derrick Butala is also charged with failure to report, but did not appear in court Friday.
“Failure to report is fairly rare. It’s usually a charge of neglect or abuse that’s followed up on. In this case, because of the large number of individuals who were aware of the situation apparently, we decided to act,” Pulaski County Prosecutor Daniel Murphy told ABC 57.
The arrests were made Wednesday, Dec. 14 at a home near C.R. 750 W and C.R. 800 N in Pulaski County, one day after the act was reported to them.
When officers arrived with a search warrant, they say they indeed found the 3-year-old girl inside of a plywood box in the living room. Five additional children were found in the home as well. All are in the custody of the Pulaski County Department of Child Services.
Three others from North Judson have been charged with felony Neglect of a Dependent: 42-year-old Donna Short, 25-year-old Christopher Short, and 18-year-old Patricia Meeks.
If convicted, the six people charged with failure to report are looking at 180 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
