It Must Be Nice to Live in Fantasy Land

Parenting is hard work.

"Caged Kids" Case Begins Jury Selection

NORWALK, Ohio - Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of a couple accused of making some of their 11 adopted special needs children sleep in cages.

Michael and Sharen Gravelle are charged with 16 counts of felony child endangering and if convicted could face one to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for each count.

The process of seating a jury in Huron County Common Pleas Court could take days, with 100 people yet to be questioned.

Earlier, about 350 potential jurors were sent questionnaires, and 250 were weeded out because of bias or other issues, said Ken Myers, who represents Sharen Gravelle.

Myers still has a motion pending to move the trial to out of Huron County, arguing there is too much publicity for the Gravelles to get a fair trial in the mostly rural northern Ohio county.

He said he is seeking "a jury that is willing to set aside some of the things that they've heard."

Yeah, because then you'll be able to find people that are able to turn a blind eye to the fact that your clients locked children in cages. Good luck with that.

"There is no case. We're going to win this thing," said lawyer Richard Drucker, who represents Michael Gravelle. "I think we have a good shot at having a fair and impartial jury."

Huron County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said he's "looking for an intelligent jury."

The last thing they want is an intelligent jury. Hell, the last thing they would want is a jury. Because there is a case, and they're not going to win. Drucker's clients are monsters. If he's lucky, he'll get a jury that will only slap them on the wrist with that pathetic one to five years.

But, you know, "A" for effort and all that. "We're going to win this thing." I love the dismissal.

The Gravelles have denied mistreating the children, who were ages 1 to 15 at the time of the alleged endangering. The youngsters were placed in foster care last fall after a county social worker likened the wood and chicken-wire enclosures in the Gravelle home to cages to kennels.

The Gravelles have repeatedly said the enclosures were necessary to keep the children from harming themselves or one another. The children have problems such as fetal alcohol syndrome and a disorder that involves eating nonfood items.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that jury room. I hope they enjoy prison orange.

The Gravelles lost permanent custody in March and have not be granted visitation since then, Myers said.

Well, thank goodness for small favors.

How long do you think it will take for them to switch to an insanity plea?

(Goodness, gracious, great balls of cross-posts.)