TAOS, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on a remote New Mexico desert compound where 11 children were found living in filth and the body of a boy was discovered (all times local):
2:45 p.m.
The father of a child found dead in a filthy New Mexico compound earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to new charges of child abuse resulting in death.
The dead boy’s father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj (see-DAHJ’ IBN wah-HAJ’), and his partner Jany Leveille, who also is charged with the same crime, remained silent in court as the new charges were read.
The pleas followed a decision by a judge to dismiss initial child neglect charges against them. They were arrested this month at a remote compound where 11 children were found living in filth and the body of a 3-year-old boy was discovered.
Authorities say Wahhaj and Leveille denied the boy proper medicine and health care as he died in December 2017 during a religious ritual aimed at casting out demonic spirits.
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12:45 p.m.
A New Mexico judge has dismissed child neglect charges against three defendants arrested at a remote compound in where 11 children were found living in filth and the body of a 3-year-old boy was discovered.
Judge Emilio Chavez ruled Wednesday that he had no discretion to keep the three defendants in custody since prosecutors missed a 10-day limit for an evidentiary hearing to establish probable cause for the neglect charges.
Prosecutors could still try to pursue charges by seeking an indictment from a grand jury.
Prosecutors offered no immediate indications Wednesday as to how they will proceed.
Another hearing is planning Wednesday afternoon to deal with new charges filed against the dead boy’s father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj (see-DAHJ’ IBN wah-HAJ’), and his partner Jany Leveille. They are accused of child abuse resulting in death.
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