Couple who chained, tortured 13 kids in California pleads not guilty

California : A California couple accused of torturing 13 children inside their house has pleaded not guilty in the court.

The couple allegedly kept their 13 children in locked rooms or chains, allowing them to shower no more than once a year.

David Allen Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise Anna Turpin, 49, came to a court dressed in black with their hands and legs shackled, and were represented by a public defender.

The court has set their bail at $12 million for each of the defendant.

"If convicted of all charges, they face 94 (years) up to life in prison," Hestrin told reporters in Riverside.

The cops had rescued 13 children from the house after one of the victim kids managed to flee from the house and narrated the harassment to a nearby cop.

Sheriff deputies were "shocked" to discover that seven of the "children" in the home were actually adults, according to the news release.

According to public records, the couple own the home and have lived there since 2010. They previously lived in Texas for many years, and have twice declared bankruptcy.