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Iowa couple accused of locking children in basement

Two Iowa parents face criminal charges after they allegedly locked their kids in the basement of their home for several weeks.
paul and joann drake

Two Iowa parents face criminal charges after they allegedly locked their kids in the basement of their home for several weeks.

Paul Drake, 45, and JoAnn Drake, 44, of Ankeny, each face two counts of neglect and two counts of false imprisonment.

The Drakes are accused of confining their adopted teenage children in the basement for a period of three to four weeks.  The children were only allowed out of the locked room to go to school.

The Iowa Department of Human Services began its investigation after one of the children reportedly told officials about the confinement in September.

Online records showed arrest warrants were issued for the Drakes on November 6.  They were each freed from the Polk County Jail after posting $22,000 cash bond.

The children were removed from the home.

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