Father to Face Trial in Slavery Case : Van Nuys Man Accused of Trying to Sell His 2-Year-Old

Apparently jealous that an Encino couple had a Mercedes-Benz, a nice home and their own business, a 30-year-old Van Nuys man said he would let them adopt his 2-year-old daughter only if they paid him $90,000, according to court testimony.

The father, Alan Daniel, was ordered Friday to stand trial for slavery after the couple’s testimony during a two-day preliminary hearing in Van Nuys Municipal Court.

In a telephone call that was taped by police in November, Daniel laid out the terms of sale with Ronald Miulli, saying he would accept an immediate down payment of $15,000, with the balance due in installments, Miulli testified.

Daniel referred to the couple’s car, home and printing business in the taped conversation and said that, if he was to be denied his daughter’s company on her birthday and holidays, he expected to be compensated financially, Deputy Dist. Atty. Deborah S. Elliot said.

Hoping to Adopt Girl

Miulli and his wife, Susan, who have no children, had been caring for the girl for seven months with Daniel’s consent and were hoping to adopt her.

Susan Miulli said in an interview that she had suffered four miscarriages and one tubal pregnancy and that a 22-month-old girl she and her husband had adopted died in December, 1984, after falling from a second-story window.

Woodland Hills pediatrician James McLeod, who had treated Daniel’s 4-year-old son, testified Thursday that Daniel told him early last year that he could not properly care for his daughter and wanted to find her a good home. McLeod, who is a neighbor of the Miullis, suggested that Daniel contact the couple.

Daniel agreed in April to let the couple care for his daughter and to discuss adoption proceedings when he obtained legal custody of the girl from the county.

Abandoned by Mother

The child had been living in foster homes since the age of 3 months, when her mother, Athena Agustus, abandoned her, Los Angeles police Detective Stephen Merrin said. Daniel and Agustus were never married, Merrin said.

The county Department of Public Social Services agreed early last year to allow the child to live temporarily with her father to see whether he should be granted permanent custody, Merrin said.

But McLeod, who had been caring for Daniel’s son, testified that Daniel told him he soon felt that he could not take care of the girl and wanted to place her in a home.

“He said he was afraid of becoming bonded to the child,” McLeod testified. “He felt he would have difficulty releasing the child if he kept her for long.”

Daniel allowed the child to live with the Miullis but duped county social workers into thinking she was still living with him while he continued to press for legal custody, Merrin said.

Shortly after he obtained custody, Daniel took the girl to his home for a visit Nov. 21 and refused to return her to the couple, Miulli testified.

“He said he had gone through a lot,” Ronald Miulli testified, “and he thought he should get something in return.”

$330,000 House for Sale

He said Daniel arrived at the $90,000 figure because the Miullis had a house for sale for $330,000 that was encumbered by $240,000 in mortgages.

“He wanted the difference,” Miulli testified, “and he said he would sign over the adoption papers. I was stunned.”

The Miullis reported the alleged offer to police, who recorded the subsequent phone call.

The Miullis have been granted temporary custody of the girl but the mother, who had been living in Iowa in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, is fighting them for permanent custody. A custody hearing is scheduled Friday.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Judith Meisels Ashmann ordered Daniel to stand trial on charges of slavery, dissuading a witness and violating a court order. The latter two charges relate to threatening phone calls that Daniel allegedly made to the Miullis.

If convicted on all three counts, Daniel could be sentenced to four years, 10 months in prison, Elliot said. Daniel is being held in County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail.

His son has been placed in protective custody with the county, Merrin said.