STOCKTON, Calif., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A former youth football coach in California has been convicted of torturing a teenager who was kept in chains in a suburban home for months, authorities said.
Anthony Waiters, 31, of Tracy was the only one of four defendants in the case to go to trial. A jury in San Joaquin County found him guilty Tuesday of torture, aggravated mayhem, bodily injury to a child and other felonies, the Contra Costa Times reported.
Kyle Ramirez, then 16, was imprisoned for nine months by Waiters' neighbors, Michael Schumacher and Kelly Lau, after being brought to their home by his guardian, Caren Ramirez. The boy escaped in December 2008, and witnesses described how he showed up at a nearby gym wearing only underpants, with a chain around his ankle, emaciated and dirty.
Schumacher and Lau, who are married to each other, and Caren Ramirez pleaded guilty and face at least 30 years in prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced in December and Waiters in January.
Kyle Ramirez in his testimony said Waiters cut him with a knife.
