HARRIMAN, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee couple have pleaded not guilty to abusing their six adoptive children.
Randall Joseph Ridenour, 53, and Michelle Lee Ridenour, 48, of Harriman were arraigned Monday on 14 counts of aggravated child abuse, seven counts of aggravated child neglect and five counts of aggravated assault, WBIR-TV reported.
The charges involve six children between the ages of 6 and 14 years old, according to an indictment handed down last week by a Roane County grand jury.
Deputies began investigating in July after receiving a referral of alleged child abuse from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, according to the Roane County Sheriff's Office.
The children reported being choked, kicked, punched and hit with objects, authorities said. They also reported that food was sometimes withheld as punishment.
The couple is due back in court in December.