Man accused of locking 9-year-old in dog cage ordered to stand trial

One of the two suspects accused of locking a 9-year-old in a dog cage has been ordered to stand trial in Racine County.

Gail Lalonde and Dale Deavers are charged with mental harm to a child and false imprisonment.

Court records show the child told a school counselor she was locked in a cage in the basement of a home in the town of Norway.

Lalonde, the child’s grandmother, told police she did it to protect the girl because of her erratic behavior.

On Wednesday, Lalonde’s preliminary hearing was postponed but Deavers was ordered to stand trial.

The girl’s father was also in court Wednesday and says he did not know the alleged abuse was happening. He says he has not seen his daughter and authorities will not let him talk to her.