Couple Accused of Abusing 3-Year-Old Plead Not Guilty
SAN FERNANDO — A North Hills couple was charged with child abuse and false imprisonment Tuesday after authorities said they beat the wife’s 3-year-old son and locked him in a bathroom in 100-degree heat.
Octavio Alberto Huicho, 23, and his wife, Elva Stella Huicho, 27, pleaded not guilty to five felony counts in connection with the abuse allegations, prosecutors said. If convicted, Octavio and Elva Huicho could each face a maximum of 24 years in state prison.
Bail for the Huichos has been set at $200,000 each. A bail review hearing for the couple was been set for Friday.
The Huichos were arrested Sunday at their apartment in the 8900 block of Burnet Avenue in North Hills after a neighbor reported that Josue Gonzalez was being abused by his mother and stepfather.
Authorities said Josue was repeatedly beaten and humiliated over a five-day period from last Wednesday-Sunday.
The boy was allegedly kept in darkness in the bathroom, which officials said had no water, as summertime temperatures soared into the triple digits.
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