Father who allegedly locked kids in basement pleads guilty

Father who allegedly locked kids in basement pleads guilty

May 12, 2008 - 3:37PM

DENNIS HUPENI

THE GAZETTE

THE CASE: A Colorado Springs couple was arrested in late 2006 on suspicion of child abuse and false imprisonment, both misdemeanors, for allegedly locking their six adopted children in the basement.

The four boys and two girls, then ages 7 to 16, were taken into custody by the El Paso County Department of Human Services at the time. Colorado Springs police alleged the children were mainly locked up overnight in the basement of a house in the 5400 block of War Paint Place to prevent them from taking food from the pantry or running away.

THE SUSPECTS: William Fam, 60, and his wife, Samia Fam, 49, were each charged with 12 misdemeanors.

WHAT'S NEW: William Fam pleaded guilty Monday to a single count of negligent child abuse causing injury. He was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and take anger management classes, and was put on unsupervised probation for 24 months. The conviction is deferred, which means if Fam successfully completes probation his record will be wiped clean.

"This case was blown out of proportion," said Fam's attorney David Foley. "As we delved into it and did a more thorough investigation, it was not as alleged."

The children had food, clean clothes and access to a bathroom, Foley said. Samia Fam had previously pleaded guilty to a single count of child abuse, negligence with no injury. She got six months of unsupervised probation and also received a deferred conviction agreement.