The parents of five young children from Lansing who were routinely locked in what a Lansing police officer described as a “dungeon” and whipped for punishment for as long as six years have been bound over to Ingham County Circuit Court.
Sarah Conde appears in 54-A District Judge Louise Alderson's courtroom Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, for a preliminary hearing. (Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)
Sarah Conde, 28, and Yenier Conde, 32, both waived their preliminary hearing Friday in Ingham County 54A District Court. The purpose of the hearing was to determine whether there was enough evidence to bind the case over to circuit court.
Yenier Conde appears in 54-A District Judge Louise Alderson's courtroom Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, for a preliminary hearing. (Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)
The Condes would lock their children in a dark bedroom with the door screwed shut and locked as punishment, Lansing Detective Pete Scaccia said during a July 18 hearing that led to criminal charges against the couple.
The children, now ages 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11, had no food and water in the room, and had no access to a toilet.
They were taken away from their parents and put into foster care after Child Protective Services discovered the full extent of the abuse in 2017. Both Condes were charged with 10 counts of first and second degree child abuse and unlawful imprisonment in July.
Between 2011 and 2017, the Condes subjected the five children to physical and verbal abuse and deprived them of medical care, Scaccia said. The abuse and neglect is documented in CPS reports as far back as April 2009. Before the children were taken away from the parents, CPS was called at least 12 more times.
During a CPS home visit last year, officials found three guns, which, as a convicted felon, Yenier Conde was not supposed to have. He now faces two charges of possession of a firearm as a felon and two felony firearm enhancements.
Sarah Conde is also charged with felonious assault and a felony firearm enhancement.
Both Condes have posted bond and are out of the Ingham County Jail. They appeared with their attorneys in court Friday.
Contact Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.
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