By Jim Hannah
Enquirer staff writer

Christopher Dugan (left), who is accused of endangering the welfare of a minor for allegedly locking his mentally disabled 7-year-old son in a dog cage overnight without food or water, listens to his attorney, Michael Lutes, after a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Kenton District Court. Dugan's wife, Khrisstofor, faces the same charge. The Enquirer/PATRICK REDDY

COVINGTON - A couple accused of caging their child can have no unsupervised contact with minors, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Kenton District Judge Martin Sheehan handed down the order after learning Khrisstofor Dyana Dugan, 31, of Covington, home-schooled a neighbor's 15-year-old.

Attorney Justin Durstock of Covington appeared before Sheehan on Dugan's behalf. Durstock said his client was unable to make it to the preliminary hearing because she was in the hospital. He did not elaborate.

Dugan and her husband, Christopher Scott Dugan, have pleaded not guilty to one count each of endangering the welfare of a minor, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $500 fine.

Mr. Dugan, 38, of Covington, declined to comment on the charges after the hearing. He is being represented by Michael Lutes of Covington.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services removed the couple's five children earlier this month after receiving an anonymous complaint that they locked up their mentally disabled 7-year-old in a dog cage overnight without food or water.

Social workers who investigated the complaint reported finding the five children locked in a room behind a solid wooden gate at the family's dog grooming business in Covington. Social-service workers said some of the children told them the 7-year-old was sometimes put in a dog cage for "punishment."

Prosecutors from the Kenton County Attorney's Office said they were still investigating the criminal charges. They said they were waiting for records from child services in Arizona.

The next hearing is the case is scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 31 in Kenton District Court.

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com