Woman charges with abusing adopted children

Associated Press - August 18, 2007 3:14 AM ET

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A central Kentucky woman has pleaded not guilty to charges that she physically and sexually abused three girls she adopted after serving as their foster parent.

Fifty-4-year-old Patricia Harris faces two counts of first-degree sodomy, nine counts of criminal abuse and one count of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.

Harris adopted the girls, ages 5, 6, and 8 in April 2006 after serving as the sisters' foster parent.

The girls were taken from Harris' custody on June 28th. They accuse the woman of a variety of abuses. The 5-year-old told investigators she was sexually abused by Harris, who also is accused of hitting the girls and pushing them down stairs.

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