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Conn. Couple Appears In Court On Charges Of Using Dog Collar On Girl, 9

DANBURY, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Danbury, Conn. man and woman appeared in court Wednesday, on charges that the man used an electric dog collar to punish a girl in his care.

As 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported, the 9-year-old girl apparently told her teacher that her stepfather was punishing her for doing poorly in school by using the dog shock collar on her neck.

But her father's defense attorney has a theory.

Conn. Couple Appears In Court On Charges Of Using Dog Collar On Girl, 9

"I don't think that these people did anything to these kids to hurt them," he said. "Yes, I think she made it up."

Eduardo Montanez, 43, was arrested Tuesday and was ordered held on $250,000 bond on charges that include third-degree assault, risk of injury to a child and cruelty. His wife, Paula Montanez, 34, was held on $200,000 bond on charges that include risk of injury to a child, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault and conspiracy to commit cruelty.

Police said she did nothing to intervene.

From the family's apartment building, a neighbor called it unbelievable.

"It's absolutely crazy. It really is," a woman said. "No parent should ever go that far."

The girl and her two siblings were taken into state custody.

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