Couple plead not guilty in Walworth abuse case

Couple plead not guilty in Walworth abuse case

By Crocker Stephenson of the Journal Sentinel

Sept. 19, 2012

Elkhorn - A Walworth County couple pleaded not guilty Wednesday to mistreating and abusing their six adopted children.

Combined, Martin and Kathleen O'Brien, of the Town of Bloomfield, are charged with 11 felony counts of child abuse and 12 misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct.

According to police records, the O'Briens, who have four biological children, began adopting children in 2004. Four of the children they adopted are Russian-born siblings.

The children told investigators they were beaten, made to kneel on stones, stripped naked and mocked, required to perform chores the Marin's biological children did not have to perform and were treated as second-class citizens in what was to have been their own home.

Walworth Circuit Court Judge James Carlson set a motion hearing for Nov. 21