The federal government has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit over the placement of three children under the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Jose and Emilio Rodriguez were beaten and tortured by their maternal grandmother Charlissa Sireech. The boys, and their sister, were placed in the home after the Ute Tribe of Utah asserted jurisdiction.
Jose, 7, is suffering from paralysis on his right side and is blind in one eye. He is experiencing development problems and wears a helmet because he frequently falls down. Emilio Rodriguez, 6, has recovered but authorities say he is emotionally scarred, as is the boys 5-year-old sister, Mona.
The children are back at the home of their paternal grandparents in California. Sireech was sentenced to 20 years in prison for abusing the boys.
Get the Story:Feds settle lawsuit, give $1M for care of abused children (The Salt Lake Tribune 2/20) Related Stories:
Woman sentenced to nearly 20 years for abuse (12/2)
Sentencing delayed in reservation abuse case (07/22)
Grandmother pleads guilty to abusing two boys (03/25)
Failures cited in child abuse on Utah reservation (3/21)
Man pleads guilty for failing to stop child abuse (11/23)
Utah tribe to investigate placement of children (10/11)
Utah grandmother jailed for abusing grandsons (09/13)
