A man and woman from Hesperia pleaded not guilty to charges including torture and attempted murder this week in connection with the alleged severe abuse of an 8-year-old boy, authorities said.
Denise Leann Althoff, 26, and Elias Heinrich Dickson, 38, each denied four counts of torture, one count of attempted murder and one count of false imprisonment during their arraignment hearings in the Rancho Cucamonga branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court on Thursday, Nov. 13, records show. They are each additionally accused of the sentence-enhancing special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury.
The investigation began on Nov. 6, when law enforcement officials were notified that an 8-year-old boy had been brought to an area hospital with “extensive injuries,” according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department statement.
Detectives from the department’s Crimes Against Children Detail were assigned to the case.
“At the conclusion of the investigation, Althoff and Dickson were arrested and booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino,” the statement said.
They were taken into custody during the early-morning hours on Nov. 7, records show.Both defendants were ordered held without bail pending further legal proceedings.
Pre-preliminary hearings for both suspects were scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the Victorville branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Detectives did not believe there were any additional victims, the sheriff’s statement said. No further details were available.
Anyone with information was urged to contact Deputy Robert Sanchez of the Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 495-7018. Information may also be submitted anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia couple accused of torture, attempted murder of 8-year-old boy
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
