Three Accused of Child Abuse, Infant Found Covered in Waste

Three Long Island, New York residents pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to various child abuse charges that included assault and endangering the welfare.

According to court prosecutors, 37-year-old Tara Graham endangered the welfare of her 22-month-old grandson as well as two other children who were living in her house. Police stated the suspect was arrested after her grandson was found covered in filth and feces.

Graham's daughter and mother of the 22-month-old, 23-year-old Alicia Graham, was also arrested and charged with two counts of assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, who are reportedly the nieces of her boyfriend. She is currently being held on $500,000 cash bail.

Michael Ahem, Alicia Graham's Legal Aid attorney, told Newsday.com that his client was "being scapegoated."

Hector Tricoche, 32, is the boyfriend of Alicia and was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after police reportedly found him with his nieces who displayed various bruises at the time of the arrest.

According to police, the girls' bruises came from Alicia Graham hitting them, leaving one with a broken clavicle and other with a cut lip.