Man Who Lived With Family in Mall Store Pleads Not Guilty to Abusing Children

A Des Moines father accused of sexually abusing three of his children entered a not guilty plea this week.

James Beaudrie entered the plea Thursday, reported WHO-TV.

Police say James Beaudrie abused three of his nine children. He faces nine counts of first-degree sexual abuse causing serious injury in the first degree and two counts of child endangerment. If found guilty of the first-degree sexual abuse charges, Beaudrie would be given a mandatory life sentence in prison, the TV station said.

Authorities said Beaudrie, his wife, Kijua, and their nine children lived in the back room of the Gamesip store at Merle Hay Mall. James Beaudrie was arrested in Chicago at his mother's apartment building.

Kijua Beaudrie, the children’s mother, is charged with three counts of child neglect. Investigators say she knew about the sexual abuse of her kids but did nothing to stop it. She’ll be in court next week for a pre-trial hearing, WHO reports.

Both James and Kijua Beaudrie are being held in the Polk County Jail.

The couple’s children are being cared for in foster homes and shelters.