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INVERNESS - Three of the four biological sons of Arthur and Lori Allain were ordered into foster care by a judge in Citrus County on Sunday during an emergency hearing that raised new allegations of abuse by the couple's fourth son.
The Allains are already accused of neglecting a severely malnourished 10-year-old girl who was in their care.
Now investigators from the Department of Children and Families said that girl may have been sexually abused by one of their sons. Investigators told the Allains they have forensics evidence to corroborate the claim, Lori Allain said Sunday night.
She said similar allegations have been made before. In each case, DCF found no wrongdoing, she said.
"They're just pulling the same old strings again," said Allain, 47. "They were just looking for a way to remove the children."
The hearing Sunday was the fifth in a little over a week where the agency asked a judge to remove the Allains' four sons.
DCF attorneys had argued at earlier hearings that child abuse allegations involving the girl were reason enough to separate the boys from their parents. They also said domestic problems in the home of the Allains' adult daughter, where the sons had been staying, justified DCF intervention.
The Allains said DCF is also accusing Arthur Allain of sexually abusing the 10-year-old girl, who authorities found dehydrated and malnourished in the family's home last month.
On Friday, both sides reached a compromise before a judge in Hernando County that allowed the sons to stay with the Allains' adult daughter, Kristen Staab.
But Saturday night, the Allains received a call from DCF investigators who said there would be another hearing Sunday morning.
Staab and the boys had already left for a tubing trip in northern Florida. Lori Allain couldn't get in touch with her court-appointed attorney, Jim Dysart.
Dysart received a call Sunday morning.
"They told me there was a new allegation pertaining to the family," said Dysart, who had a commitment and couldn't attend the hearing. "It was about to take place. They were already started, or something, when they called."
Dysart said his presence wouldn't have changed the outcome, but the Allains said their right to counsel was infringed.
The order to place the Allains' sons in foster care will be discussed during a hearing in Hernando County on Tuesday. The Allains said they will ask a judge to overturn Sunday's ruling.
Sunday night, Allain said she couldn't reach her daughter to relay the judge's order. Instead, she waited by the phone for their call.
She also packed three suitcases for her sons.
"We're torn apart by this," Lori Allain said. "This is destroying the family."
- Aaron Sharockman can be reached at 727 771-4303 or asharockman@sptimes.com