Social Workers Pleads Guilty In Caged Children Case

NORWALK, Ohio (AP) _ A guilty plea from a social worker in Ohio who knew that some special needs children were being forced to sleep in cages. <br/><br/>Elaine Thompson pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor

Tuesday, February 20th 2007, 10:24 pm

By: News On 6

NORWALK, Ohio (AP) _ A guilty plea from a social worker in Ohio who knew that some special needs children were being forced to sleep in cages.

Elaine Thompson pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts that could get her up to nine months in jail. Sentencing is set for April tenth. As part of the plea bargain, 29 other counts were dropped.

Thompson was allegedly contacted seven years ago by Sharen and Michael Gravelle, who were looking for help controlling children. They would eventually be convicted of endangerment and abuse for keeping some of their eleven adopted, special-needs children in wire-and-wood cages.

Sharon Gravelle testified that Thompson approved of the enclosed beds.

Last week, the Gravelles were sentenced to two years in prison.