Cáceres court upholds 76-year prison sentence for circus owners

The High Court of Justice of Extremadura (TSJEx) has upheld prison sentences totaling 76 years for three members of a family who owned a circus. The convictions involve crimes against workers' rights, moral integrity, sexual assault of minors, and the production of pornographic material.

The court's decision follows an appeal by the convicted individuals and the Public Prosecutor's Office. The case centers on a family of four—a couple and their two minor children—who were subjected to labor exploitation and violence starting in late 2019. Although promised employment, housing, and a monthly salary, the family was instead forced to live in a caravan without water or electricity.

According to the proven facts, the adults were required to be available to the circus nearly constantly without proper pay or rest. The ruling also details physical aggression, threats, and humiliations. Furthermore, the two minors were subjected to sexual abuse by two of the convicted individuals, some of which was recorded on mobile phones.