Woman charged with locking up special needs children indicted

Paula Sinclair charged with aggravated assault with deadly weapon

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS – A woman accused of locking seven special needs children inside a Fort Bend County home has been indicted on several charges, officials said.

Paula Sinclair has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to court documents, Sinclair intentionally or knowingly caused bodily injury to four victims by striking them with a board or bat, officials said.

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Her bond has been set at $225,000.

In November 2016, Sinclair was arrested and accused of leaving seven special needs children malnourished and in deplorable conditions at a Richmond-area house.

The children, two 14-year-olds, four 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old, were locked in a filthy, bug-infested room that smelled of human waste, according to investigators.

The children told investigators they risked being beaten if they tried to escape.

The state took custody of the children after Fort Bend County officials said they found them inside the home.

Allen Richardson, a man who also lived at the house, also faces charges.