A Montville couple was arraigned in New London Superior Court this afternoon on charges that they deprived two children of food and neglected the girls, ages 1 and 14. John Berkery, 35, the girls' stepfather, and Christine M. Berkery, 32, their mother, are charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor and two counts of cruelty to a person.

John Berkery, 35, the girls' stepfather, and Christine M. Berkery, 32, their mother, are charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor and two counts of cruelty to a person. The couple allegedly rationed food for both children, kept the infant in her crib and failed to change her diaper regularly. According to an arrest warrant affidavit prepared by Officer David Radford II, he and a social worker arrived at the house in August to find the infant trying to drink from a bottle that contained a moldy substance and wearing a diaper that was "over-full with feces and urine."

The couple allegedly rationed food for both children, kept the infant in her crib and failed to change her diaper regularly. According to an arrest warrant affidavit prepared by Officer David Radford II, he and a social worker arrived at the house in August to find the infant trying to drink from a bottle that contained a moldy substance and wearing a diaper that was "over-full with feces and urine." Montville police began investigating in August after the children's aunt reported that they "appeared to be starving" when they arrived for a visit in Maine. The older girl is currently living with the aunt, and the infant is in a foster home. The older girl told investigators that the couple had met online and were married in May 2009. They lived briefly in Killingly before moving to the Oakdale section of Montville. The teenager said her mother was often drunk and had begun locking up food after moving in with John Berkery.

Montville police began investigating in August after the children's aunt reported that they "appeared to be starving" when they arrived for a visit in Maine. The older girl is currently living with the aunt, and the infant is in a foster home. The older girl told investigators that the couple had met online and were married in May 2009. They lived briefly in Killingly before moving to the Oakdale section of Montville. The teenager said her mother was often drunk and had begun locking up food after moving in with John Berkery. The couple was presented before Judge Matthew E. Frechette, who issued protective orders prohibiting them from contacting the children, ordered them held on $150,000 bonds and continued their case to Jan. 14.

The couple was presented before Judge Matthew E. Frechette, who issued protective orders prohibiting them from contacting the children, ordered them held on $150,000 bonds and continued their case to Jan. 14. John Berkery, who works for a Chrysler dealer, has been arrested in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York, according to bail commissioner Kyle Jones. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for criminal trespass and failure to appear in court, Jones said. He has no felony convictions.

John Berkery, who works for a Chrysler dealer, has been arrested in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York, according to bail commissioner Kyle Jones. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for criminal trespass and failure to appear in court, Jones said. He has no felony convictions. Christine Berkery has no criminal record, Jones said. Despite that, prosecutor Peter A. McShane asked the judge to impose a "significant" bond given the seriousness of the charges and the fact that Mrs. Berkery had been under investigation for similar allegations in Maine and Rhode Island and had left both states and "moved on" before the cases were resolved.

Christine Berkery has no criminal record, Jones said. Despite that, prosecutor Peter A. McShane asked the judge to impose a "significant" bond given the seriousness of the charges and the fact that Mrs. Berkery had been under investigation for similar allegations in Maine and Rhode Island and had left both states and "moved on" before the cases were resolved. While McShane was speaking, the mother whispered to public defender Joseph Siegal that the charges had been dismissed in Maine.

While McShane was speaking, the mother whispered to public defender Joseph Siegal that the charges had been dismissed in Maine.The mother and stepfather each have four children of their own, but only the two girls were living in the home recently. In an earlier incident, a juvenile boy who was living in the home was charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count of risk of injury to a minor.

The mother and stepfather each have four children of their own, but only the two girls were living in the home recently. In an earlier incident, a juvenile boy who was living in the home was charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count of risk of injury to a minor.