NORTH EDWARDS, Calif. (KERO) — A Mojave couple appeared in court Tuesday following their arrest in a disturbing child abuse investigation involving their three adoptive children.

Matthew James, 38, and Brittney James, 35, made their first court appearance at Kern County Superior Court in Mojave, where they each face a long list of serious felony charges.

The investigation began on October 14, when deputies from the Mojave-Boron Substation responded to a report of possible child abuse in the small community of North Edwards, near Bellaire Avenue and Clay Mine Road.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered three children— all under the age of 14 — who had been subjected to severe abuse. The children’s adoptive parents, Matthew and Brittney James, were arrested at

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