Allegations of Child Neglect
A Caucasian couple from West Virginia is facing accusations of child neglect for allegedly exploiting their adopted African American children as ‘slaves’ and confining them in a barn.
Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, entered a plea of not guilty in Kanawha County court on Tuesday to a range of charges, including trafficking of a minor, using a minor for forced labor, and child neglect that posed a significant risk of severe injury or death, as reported by local news source Metro News.
They are also accused of violating human rights by singling out African American children and compelling them to work based on their race, stated Metro News.
Harsh Living Conditions
Kanawha County circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers described the children as being “effectively used as slaves,” based on the allegations outlined in the indictment.
The couple was initially arrested in October 2023 following a wellness check that revealed the harsh living conditions in which two of their five adopted children – aged six, nine, 11, 14, and 16 – were living on a property in Sissonville.
During a previous court statement, Whitefeather claimed that the barn where the 14 and 16-year-olds were found was a “teenage clubhouse” and denied allegations of them being locked in.
Legal Proceedings and Bail
Inside the main house, a nine-year-old girl was discovered before Lantz arrived with an 11-year-old boy, followed by Whitefeather returning with a six-year-old child.
The bail for the couple has been increased to $500,000 each, up from the initial $200,000.
A trial date for the couple has been scheduled for 9th September.