Myers continues to demonize the children

Jury begins to decide fate of parents of 'caged kids'
Deliberations to continue today after emotional closing arguments
Sheeran, Thomas J. Columbus Dispatch, Dec. 20, 2006, News pg. E7.

NORWALK, Ohio -- Jurors must decide whether unruly special-needs youngsters needed to be kept in wire and wooden cages at night or if confining them amounted to a criminal act by their adoptive parents.

Deliberations began yesterday afternoon in the emotionally charged trial of Sharen and Michael Gravelle on charges of child abuse and child endangering. A few hours later, the jury adjourned for the day and was scheduled to resume deliberations this morning.

In closing arguments, Richard Drucker, Michael Gravelle's attorney, said that in the three-week trial, there had been no evidence of physical harm to any of the 11 children and only general allegations of abusive treatment.

"I submit to you that these so-called cages were bunk beds that were enclosed," Drucker said.
The Gravelles tried to create a loving home environment, he said. "They loved their children."

Huron County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said that although the youngsters were difficult, "it doesn't mean you put children in cages or boxes."

The Gravelles each face eight misdemeanor counts of child abuse, eight felony counts of child endangering and eight misdemeanor counts of child endangering. The endangering charges accuse the couple of putting some of their children at a substantial risk of harming their mental health.

The Gravelles could face one to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for each felony count if convicted.

The children, who suffered from problems such as fetal alcohol syndrome and a disorder that involves eating nonfood items, ranged in age from 1 to 14 when authorities removed them in September 2005 from the Gravelle home in rural Wakeman, about 60 miles west of Cleveland. They were placed in foster care last year, and the couple lost custody in March.

The case began to unfold when a county social worker visited the home after a complaint and likened the red and blue cages to kennels. In the trial, that social worker testified that the cages reminded her of slave quarters.

In his closing argument, Leffler said the Gravelles were bad parents and should be convicted.
The Gravelles should be held responsible to uphold community values and the law, Leffler said.
"You are the conscience of our community," he said to the jury.

Sharen Gravelle's attorney, Ken Myers, told jurors that the couple had worked under difficult circumstances to provide a loving family for the children. The enclosures were used because of the children's intolerable behavior, he said.

Myers challenged the credibility of prosecution witnesses, including some of the children.

Myers asked the jury to acquit the Gravelles and "send a message it is time for this charade to end."