Daniel Panico

A Southern California couple found with their three children in a makeshift desert shack said they hope to be reunited with their kids now that they have a house to live in.

A Southern California couple who pleaded not guilty to child abuse after authorities found them housing their three children in a makeshift desert shack was freed from jail Tuesday.

A Southern California couple charged with child abuse was extremely poor and too proud to accept charity, but they were attentive parents whose children didn’t appear to be neglected, according to friends of the pair.

The parents of three children found living in a filthy wooden box were arrested Wednesday and have been charged with three counts of felony child abuse.