In February, a Joshua Tree couple, who were living in a plywood structure along with their three children and dozens of cats—were arrested and charged with felony child cruelty charges. The charges were reduced in May to misdemeanor child endangerment and failure to address truancy. Managing editor Tami Roleff says Mona Kirk and Daniel Panico were in court again Friday…
The misdemeanor charges against a Joshua Tree couple accused of three counts of child endangerment and failure to address truancy were dropped Friday morning. Daniel Panico, 74, and Mona Kirk, 52, were arrested February 28 after a deputy found them, along with their three children, who were then 11, 13, and 14, along with dozens of cats, living in a plywood structure on their property in the 7000 block of Sunfair Road. Friends of the couple raised money to buy them a house and furnishing in Joshua Tree, and the couple was also ordered to go through parental counseling. In the interest of justice, the charges were dismissed Friday.
