Friends and family of the parents accused of child abuse for living in a plywood box in Joshua Tree showed up at their first court appearance Friday afternoon to demonstrate their support for the couple. After the couple entered their pleas of Not Guilty, managing editor Tami Roleff talked with a family friend, who said the children are well cared for…
Family members and friends were in the courtroom Friday to show support for the two parents, Daniel Panico, 73, and Mona Kirk, 51, who are accused of felony child abuse for living with their children in a plywood box on Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree. After the hearing, one friend, Jackie Klear, said that the family had been living in a house just down the road for $1 a month. But when the owner died, they were forced to move. They moved into their trailer, first in Yucca Valley, and then moved onto the property they owned on Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree. The family loved their cats, but when their cats became too numerous, Panico used plywood to build a shelter for the family and the cats stayed in the trailer overnight to protect them from predators. Klear stressed that the children were well taken care of, were well dressed and clean, and very, very smart. The children were holding a banner for a float in the Yucca Valley light parade in December. Klear said whatever money the family had, went toward extracurricular activities for the children, soccer, dance classes, and more. The children, she added, were home schooled, but were well known at the Yucca Valley library and Hi-Desert Nature Museum.
A gofundme website has been set up for the parents to help build them a house on their property.
https://www.gofundme.com/fxy2rg
HOMELESS FAMILY’S CHILDREN DESCRIBED AS “WELL CARED FOR” BY FRIENDS
