BOSTON -- A judge refused Friday to free two religious sect members who were jailed for refusing to turn over information about their baby.
Rebecca and David Corneau were found in contempt of court Jan. 17 after repeatedly refusing to even acknowledge a pregnancy.
They eventually said there was a miscarriage, but the judge didn't find the claim credible without proof. The couple refused to provide it, and the judge ordered them jailed on Feb. 5.
On Friday, appeals Judge Janis Berry upheld that judge's decision.
The sect, which rejects modern medicine and the government, came to prosecutors' attention after two young children from the group were found buried in Maine. Three sect members face charges in the death of an infant, who prosecutors say was starved.
The Corneaus were the parents of the other child. They weren't charged, but they lost custody of four other children.
Prosecutors became concerned again when Rebecca Corneau, who appeared pregnant during the child custody hearings last fall, suddenly was no longer expecting. State authorities wanted information because they feared that if the child had been born it could be in danger; the couple refused.
Berry ruled Friday that Juvenile Judge Kenneth Nasif's actions were reasonable.
The Corneaus' lawyer, J.W. Carney Jr., did not return a phone call Friday seeking comment.