Dentist and wife accused of locking young daughter in CAGE without food or water will NOT go to prison
AN Indiana dentist and his wife convicted of locking their teenage daughter in a cage and denying her food, water and clean facilities won't serve any time behind bars.
Alan and Aimee Friz pleaded guilty on Friday to neglect of a dependent in Crawford Circuit Court in exchange for two years of probation and the dismissal of their criminal confinement charges, reported.
Police said the couple locked their daughter inside the cage at night and possibly at other times.
According to court documents, they withheld food, water and sanitary facilities from her while she was locked up.
Several charges of sexual misconduct with a minor levied against 59-year-old Alan Friz were also dismissed.
The Huntingburg couple was arrested in October 2017 after deputies responded to their Dubois County home on a report of a juvenile that was out of control.
Authorities interviewed the girl with help from the county prosecutor’s office.
Alan Friz was taken into custody as the investigation continued.
Cops subsequently obtained a search warrant for the home and discovered a closet area of a bedroom that had been converted into a lockable cage.
PLEA BARGAIN
Dubois Circuit Court Judge Nathan Verkamp accepted the plea agreement that a press release from the prosecutor’s office said will require the couple “to accept some level of responsibility for their actions and will require the [couple] to be supervised for a period of time.”
Both were originally charged in Dubois County, but the case was moved to Crawford County after they argued that they wouldn’t get a fair trial there.
“Although this plea clearly represents a lenient resolution for the defendants in light of the severity of the charges filed against them, this plea was offered with the input of the victim, her guardians, and others working closely with her,” according to the prosecutor’s press release, reports the .
Prosecutor Anthony D Quinn said in the release: “It was a difficult decision to offer this plea, difficult as a prosecutor and for the law enforcement officers who worked hard to build a solid case against the Friz’s.
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“Nevertheless, the case ultimately is about the victim.
“We felt continuing the trauma she has endured while this case has been pending, and by having to testify to a jury does not serve her best interests.
“I hope the victim continues to thrive in her new environment and continues on the path of healing.”
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