Madison woman's lawyer says avoid rush to judgment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The lawyer for a Madison woman accused of starving her 15-year-old stepdaughter has asked that people avoid an unfair rush to judgment.

Attorney Thomas J. McClure says Melinda Drabek-Chritton and her husband, Chad Chritton, are good people who have been unfairly characterized by an incomplete investigation. He tells The Associated Press that when the truth comes out, the public will find a "very different situation" than the way events have been presented thus far.

The girl's father and stepmother are accused of denying her sufficient food and forcing her to live in the basement. Her stepbrother is accused of sexually assaulting her. The AP isn't naming the defendants to avoid identifying the girl.

The father and stepmother are being held on $22,500 and $30,000 cash bond respectively. They're due back in court Friday.