A Sissonville couple charged with human trafficking and civil rights violations of their adopted children pleaded not guilty Monday to new felony child abuse charges.
Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Ray Lantz, 61, were initially arrested in October 2023 after two of their four adopted children were found locked in a Sissonville barn.
The new charges stem from the state’s investigation, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Krivonyak told Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers.
The state alleges Whitefeather sprayed the children with bear repellent, which led to four child abuse charges against her.
Lantz received one new child abuse charge after the state found a photo on Whitefeather’s smartphone of Lantz hitting a child with “what appears to be a PVC pipe,†Krivonyak said.
For the previous human trafficking and forced labor charges, the state removed language alleging the couple adopted their children from a “facility that serves runaway youths, children in foster care, the homeless, and victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault.â€
Krivonyak said the state’s investigation showed that was not true, and the couple adopted the children from a foster placement.
The couple’s trial is set for Jan. 13. The two are being held on a $500,000 bail each.
CLICK HERE to follow the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Gazette-Mail and receive
