`HOME ALONE' PAIR PLEAD INNOCENT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 12, 1993                   TAG: 9302120120
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: GENEVA, ILL.                                LENGTH: Short
`HOME ALONE' PAIR PLEAD INNOCENT
A couple accused of leaving their two young daughters home alone while vacationing in Mexico pleaded innocent Thursday to charges of neglecting and beating the girls.
David Schoo, 45, and Sharon Schoo, 35, were arraigned on 64 charges for leaving their children, ages 4 and 9, alone for nine days.
They also are accused of locking one daughter in a crawl space for seven hours and another in a room repeatedly, kicking one in the ribs and stomach, beating both with a belt and pulling their hair.
A defense attorney tried unsuccessfully at Thursday's hearing to have the charges dropped, arguing that the state's law on child abandonment, child endangerment and cruelty to children were unconstitutional because they didn't specify the type of behavior that constituted the crimes.
"The Schoos do not deny that they have disciplined their children, as does every parent in America. However, David and Sharon categorically deny the incredible descriptions of abuse as enumerated in the indictments," their lawyers said Wednesday in a statement.
The children, 9-year-old Nicole and 4-year-old Diana, have been staying in foster care pending further action. Neither their parents nor the defense lawyers have been allowed to see them.
The Schoos were arrested Dec. 29 at O'Hare International Airport as they returned from Acapulco, Mexico.
If convicted, the couple could spend the rest of their lives in prison and be fined $440,000.
The Schoos remain free on $50,000 bond each.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB