Denver parents accused of keeping 4 boys in filth
By P. SOLOMON BANDA and COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press
Oct 8, 2013 6:53 PM CDT
Lorinda Bailey walks from the Denver Justice Center on the day of the first hearing in her felony child abuse case, in Denver, Tuesday, Oct. 8 2013. Bailey, 35, who is free on bond, and Wayne Sperling, 66, who is in custody, are charged with child abuse for allegedly starving their four sons, ages 2,...   (Associated Press)

Court records show a Denver couple accused of keeping four malnourished young sons in a filthy apartment were accused of similar neglect of three other children in 2006.

The parents, Wayne Sperling and Lorinda Bailey, appeared in court Tuesday on felony child-abuse charges. Authorities say their children, ages 2 to 6, lived in an apartment littered with cat feces and flies and couldn't speak.

Bailey, who is free on bail, declined to comment. Sperling's lawyer made no public statement.

Records show police found similar conditions at the couple's apartment in 2006, when they had three other children.

The parents pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child-abuse charges in that case and were ordered to serve probation and take parenting classes.

All the children were placed with a child services agency.

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