Former Xinjiang Lawmaker Charged in 'House of Horrors' Child Abuse Case Involving 21 Children in California

A former legislator in China's Xinjiang region has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit child abuse in a California case involving 21 children. Guojun Xuan, 66, and his wife, Silvia Zhang, 39, were arraigned on 6 October at a Pasadena courthouse, where a judge set bail at $20 million (£15.2 million) each.

Prosecutors allege that the couple encouraged nannies to physically punish children at their Arcadia mansion, which Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described as a 'house of horrors'. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors Describe Alleged Abuse Inside Mansion

According to prosecutors, children were allegedly struck with shoes and wooden sticks. Xuan faces an additional felony child-abuse count. Both defendants are also charged as accessories after the fact and accused of helping nanny Chunmei Li avoid arrest. Li is reported to have left for China and remains wanted on an outstanding warrant.

Hochman described the case at a news conference as unprecedented and 'horrific'.

The investigation involves 21 children, ranging from a few months to 13 years old. Fifteen were removed from the Arcadia home in 2025, while six others were found living at separate addresses. The total number of children connected to the investigation does not establish that each experienced the same alleged abuse.

Prosecutors say approximately 32 motion-activated cameras recorded video and audio across the 10,287-square-foot property. Hochman said one recording showed Xuan instructing a nanny to hit a child harder, while another allegedly showed him participating in the abuse.

Prosecutors said the couple had 21 children together, most born through surrogates. Investigators continued to examine the surrogacy arrangements and the circumstances in which the children were being raised.

Former Legislative Roles in Xinjiang

The charges have drawn renewed attention to Xuan's political career in China.

An investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation, citing Chinese state media and official records, reported that he joined the Urumqi Municipal People's Congress in 1997 and took a seat in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region People's Congress in 2008.

The investigation cited a 2012 interview with Chinese outlet Sina in which Xuan was said to have submitted more than 200 proposals to the two legislative bodies. Sina also identified him as general secretary of a Xinjiang refrigeration company.

Xuan has not been charged with any offence relating to his political career in China.

Surrogacy Arrangements Under Investigation

Hochman said the couple operated Mark Surrogacy Investment LLC from their home and used the business to recruit women across the US to carry children for them.

At least eight women have told investigators they were aggressively pursued to act as surrogates for the couple. One surrogate, Kayla Elliott, is seeking custody of the child she delivered.

The investigation continues to examine the arrangements under which the children were born and brought into the couple's care.

Defence Disputes Allegations

Mitchell Krems, Xuan's lawyer, told reporters that his client had never harmed a child and disputed prosecutors' characterisation of the case.

Zhang told The Wall Street Journal in 2025: 'We never sell our babies.' That statement preceded the current charges and does not establish that selling children is among the offences alleged.

The couple's not-guilty pleas leave the allegations to be tested in court. The criminal proceedings and the investigation into the surrogacy arrangements remain ongoing.