NEWTON, Kan. – The North Newton couple accused of 12 felonies including child abuse, aggravated battery and child torture were arraigned Monday where they entered “not guilty” pleas according to Harvey County Attorney David Yoder’s office.

James and Paige Nachtigal were charged in February and are accused of abusing three children they adopted from a Peruvian orphanage while working as international missionaries.

The child abuse allegations say the couple used cruel and inhuman corporal punishment, seven counts of aggravated battery and two counts alleging child torture.

Court documents released earlier indicated that a 11-year-old was regularly beaten with a wooden spoon and had his arm broken after he ran away from his North Newton home.

A date for the jury trial was set for Jan. 17, of next year.