A South Florida mother is accused of abandoning her seven kids to go live with her new husband. She pleaded not guilty to child neglect charges on Thursday (October 29), according to NBC Miami. The outlet said 35-year-old Elidiesneins Perez was arraigned on the charges and plead not guilty in a written plea.
Prosecutors claim Perez neglected her children, who were living in a North Miami Beach home. The kids, ages 4 to 17, told detectives they didn't have any good or clean clothes at time. A 15-year-old child has cerebral palsy and was supposed to be getting physical therapy, Oxygen reported. When the kids were staying at the South Florida home, it was near Perez, her husband Henry Laso, and their 2-month-old daughter.
The mother was arrested after one of the children called police, telling authorities that they were not enrolled in school. According to an arrest affidavit, the children hadn't seen their mother in over a month. Laso was taken into custody earlier this month after a standoff with police. Officers originally came to the man's house to talk about his behavior. The husband also had an open case for allegedly abusing two of the teenage children, according to Oxygen.
"Perez will be back in court on Dec. 14. and it appears her case will go in front of a jury. If convicted Perez would face a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of 35 years in state prison," NBC Miami reported. Perez's children, including the 2-month-old daughter, are under the care of the Department of Children and Families.
Photo: Miami-Dade Corrections