Two Joshua Tree parents were arrested Wednesday, accused of felony child abuse when they and their three minor children were found living in a plywood box in the 7000 block of Sunfair Road. Daniel Panico, 73, and Mona Kirk, 51, made their first appearance in court today. With a courtroom filled with news media from Los Angeles and Palm Springs, managing editor Tami Roleff files this report…
The Joshua Tree parents who are accused of felony child abuse for living in a plywood box with their three minor children were in court Friday afternoon. Daniel Panico, 73, seemed bewildered to be there. “I’m wondering why this has all happened?”
The public defender who was appointed to represent him and his wife, Mona Kirk, 51, advised him to wait to talk to his attorney before making any statements in court. The judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf, set bail for $300,000 each, and entered a protective order against them, prohibiting them from seeing or coming into contact with their children, aged 11, 13, and 14, without an attorney present. Mona Kirk and Daniel Panico will be in court again Tuesday for a bail hearing.
