John and Linda Dollar, wearing red jail uniforms and handcuffed behind their backs, were accompanied by heavy security into a courtroom inside the Citrus County jail.

Their attorney, Charles Vaughn, of Inverness, told the judge that John Dollar, 57, and Linda Dollar, 51, were unaware there was an arrest warrant for them until he informed them during a phone call.

Vaughn said the Dollars were returning to Citrus County when they were arrested Feb. 4 in southeastern Utah.

Assistant State Attorney Ric Buxman told the judge the Dollars had fled from Citrus because they knew the charges of aggravated child abuse could lead to serious prison time.

The couple knew there was in investigation into child abuse allegations and decided to leave the state, Buxman said.

Judge Mark Yerman sided with the prosecutor, saying the Dollars were a flight risk and that he also wanted to protect the ``psychological well-being'' of the children involved in the abuse case.

The Dollars, who arrived at the Citrus County jail Saturday night, did not speak at the four-minute hearing.

Vaughn has said the couple will defend themselves against the charges and intend to tell their side of the story, but he did not elaborate.

The adopted children who were allegedly abused painted a horrific picture for investigators, saying they were starved, shocked with a cattle prod, beaten with a hammer and had toenails yanked out with pliers.

The couple fled Citrus County ahead of a hearing with the state Department of Children & Families, which put the children, ages 12 to 17, in foster care after the allegations surfaced Jan. 21, when the Dollars' 16-year-old son - weighing less than 60 pounds - was taken to the hospital with a head wound.

Since the allegations came to light, investigators have found a cattle prod, a pair of pliers and what appear to be toenails in the home.

Pool reporter Jorge Sanchez, of the St. Petersburg Times, contributed to this report.