ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 18 (UPI) -- An Alaska woman appeared in court Wednesday on charges she abused her adopted and foster children.
Anya James, 50, of Anchorage, appeared in Alaska Superior Court on six counts of first-degree assault and 10 counts of kidnapping, KSKA, Anchorage, reported. The abduction counts were because she allegedly confined the children, the radio station said.
She was being held on $100,000 bail following her arrest Tuesday.
Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Anita Shell said authorities believe the children were physically and emotionally abused. Police said James has six adopted children and an undetermined number of foster children in her care.
She came under suspicion in October and four children were removed from her home at that time.
James received $750,000 in state adoption subsidies between 2000 and 2010, Shell said.
James, whose home is valued at $560,000, educated the children at home and restricted their contact with the community, KSKA reported.
The Anchorage Daily News said James moved from the Eagle River area in 2001. She allegedly confined the children in small rooms with alarms on doors and windows to alert her if they tried to get out, police said.
The children, who were found to be malnourished, were forced to use kitty litter buckets as toilets even though the home had three working bathrooms, authorities charge.
James also operates a dog-and-cat kennel business on the property. The animals were reported to be in good condition.
