Southwest
Texas father detained in Russia sentenced to 21 years in penal colony despite 'almost no evidence'
A Russian court sentenced a Texas father to 21 years in a penal colony on charges of child abuse Tuesday, despite “almost no evidence” and multiple U.S. investigations that resulted in no charges.
David Barnes, 66, was accused of abusing his two sons in 2018 and 2014 by his then-wife, Russian Svetlana Koptyaeva. Police in Houston investigated both allegations at the time and found no reason to file charges.
“Frankly, I’m horrified,” Barnes’ defense attorney, Gleb Glinka, told ABC News outside the courthouse. “There was almost no evidence that the court could base that verdict on.”
Koptyaeva is alleged to have illegally taken her and Barnes’ children out of the U.S. in the midst of a custody dispute in 2019. Interpol then declared both sons missing, and the U.S. transferred custody rights to Barnes, though that could not be enforced because the children were taken to Russia.
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U.S. citizen David Barnes, 66, has been jailed for 21 years in a maximum security penal colony in Russia on child molestation charges originally investigated in the U.S., after being raised by his Russian ex-wife Svetlana Koptyaeva, when a decision was taken not to pursue criminal action. (East2West)
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Montgomery County prosecutors also charged Koptyaeva with felony interference with child custody and issued a warrant for her arrest.
“I do know that everyone that heard and investigated the child sexual abuse allegations raised by Mrs. Barnes during the child custody proceedings did not find them to be credible,” Kelly Blackburn of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office told ABC News on Tuesday. “Mrs. Barnes’ interference with the child custody case is still pending, and the warrant for her is still active.”
David Barnes’ ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva, is charged with interfering in a custody dispute by illegally taking her children from the U.S. to Russia. (East2West)
Barnes has been detained in Russia since January 2022, when his family said he traveled there to see his children and apply for visitation rights, according to ABC.
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Koptyaeva once again raised the abuse allegations soon after Barnes’ arrival. Russian authorities say they investigated the claims, though Montgomery authorities reportedly say they were never contacted by Russian officials about the issue.
David Barnes is one of several U.S. citizens being detained by Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. (East2West)
“I didn’t steal anyone,” Koptyaeva told ABC on Tuesday. “I was just protecting my kids.”
Barnes is one of several U.S. citizens currently being detained in Russia, alongside journalist Evan Gershkovich and U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. Unlike the latter two, however, President Biden’s administration at this point has not declared Barnes to be “wrongfully detained.”
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
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