THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 7, 1994 TAG: 9410070601
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
Kenneth Long, 27, was found guilty Thursday of felony child neglect and abduction for confining his girlfriend's 4-year-old daughter to the bottom of a linen closet.
Long and his girlfriend, Mercedes Russell, 24, were both charged in January after child-welfare workers were tipped to conditions in the home.
Evidence showed Long and Russell used the bottom of the linen closet, which they called ``The Box,'' to punish Russell's daughter, Melanie. The closet had been modified into a cell, with a piece of plywood at the front. The cell's ceiling was so low that the girl couldn't stand without stooping.
Russell, 24, was found guilty in June of child neglect and abduction for putting her daughter into the box, spanking her with a belt, and calling her abusive names.
Long will be sentenced in November.
KEYWORDS: CHILD ABUSE CHILD NEGLECT TRIAL
VERDICT by CNB