Queens Parents Accused Of Abducting 8 Kids Plead Guilty, Face 90 Days In Jail
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Queens couple accused of kidnapping their eight children from foster care has pleaded guilty to second-degree custodial interference.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown called Tuesday's guilty plea by 28-year-old Shanel Nadal and 24-year-old Nephra Payne "just and fair.''
Nadal, Payne and their children were found living in a van in Harrisburg.
Police said Nadal snuck her eight kids out of the Forestdale Child Agency in Forest Hills during what was supposed to be a supervised group visit on Sept. 19.
The Payne siblings, seven brothers named Nephra and one sister named Nefertiti, range in age from 11 months to 11-years-old.
Their lawyer said Nadal thought the children were being abused and feared for their safety.
"In addition to the physical abuse and the sexual molestation they were enduring in the foster care system, that they weren't being fed," said defense attorney Norman Steiner.
Both Nadal and Payne face 90 days in jail and three years' probation when they are sentenced Nov. 10.
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