The head of a south-central Kansas home for the aging and his wife have been charged with abusing three children they adopted from Peru.

Jim and Paige Nachtigal, of North Newton, were charged Wednesday in Harvey County with three counts each of child abuse. They are jailed on $300,000 bond. Harvey County attorney David Yoder says he doesn’t know if the couple has an attorney in the criminal case.

Their 11-year-old son and 11- and 15-year-old daughters were placed in protective custody last week.

Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton says the two younger children were “severely malnourished,” and had broken bones.

North Newton police chief Randy Jordan says the children were punished whenever they had “sinned.” He said their parents considered not doing homework or complimenting their mother’s cooking sins.

Original Story:

A south-central Kansas couple has been arrested on suspicion of abusing three children they adopted from an orphanage in Peru.

Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said in a news release that their North Newton parents were arrested Tuesday after a court hearing focused on the welfare of the children. The two 11-year-olds and a 14-year-old were placed in protective custody last week because of concerns about their treatment.

The release said the two younger children were “severely malnourished” and had multiple bruises. A medical examination also revealed that they had current broken bones as well as past broken bones that were healing.

The parents are jailed on suspicion of child abuse, aggravated child endangerment and aggravated battery. They haven’t been formally charged.