Lynn and Lindsey Maxwell go on trial tonight in Palermo Town Court on charges of endangering the welfare of Erin Maxwell, the 11 year old girl who died last year in a home described by police as deplorable.
Erin’s stepbrother, Alan Jones, faces a murder trial in September.
Full trials on misdemeanor counts are unusual, but then, this is no normal case. Erin Maxwell’s death prompted outrage at the county Department of Social Services, which had investigated complaints at the home but had not removed the girl from the home, which was said to be filled with the smell of animal feces. A report found that the department’s case workers are badly overworked and recommended increasing the number of caseworkers. County legislators resisted calls to fire DSS Commissioner Frances Lanigan.
The trial will take place in town court, with a jury of six people. It could take several days for the full trial, which will be handled by town justice Robert Wood.
Meantime, the Maxwells told NewsChannel 9 in an interview Monday that they are not guilty of any crime.
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