Two UF biological scientists were arrested Dec. 8 with charges of aggravated child abuse and child neglect.
Dustin Huff, 35, and Yurui Xie, 31, were accused of locking their kids in makeshift cages for hours while they worked at UF and overnight, according to the Miami Herald.
Huff was a biological scientist for UF IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department who was hired in December 2017. Xie has worked as the Plant Pathology Department’s safety manager since June 2019, according to a now-deleted UF IFAS staff directory listing.
The two were charged with three felonies: two counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of child neglect.
The Gainesville Police Department officers took the two to Alachua County Jail, where their bonds are each set at $600,000, according to the Alachua County Jail’s website.
Xie pled not guilty Monday; Huff hasn’t made a plea as of Tuesday night.
Xie graduated with a master’s of science in horticulture sciences Summer 2016 and Huff graduated with a bachelor of science from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in Spring 2015, according to UF commencement booklets.
The two were trespassed from all UF properties Monday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
