See how they are?

I wish someone would do something about the heterosexual problem. Just look at some of the things they do to each other.

ROCHESTER — Attorneys for a Farmington woman and her boyfriend, charged with entering St. Mary’s Church to sacrifice her children, argued Friday they never meant to do anyone harm.

Nicole Mancini, 29, of 8 Peaceful Pines Circle, and her boyfriend John Thurber, 35, of Four Rod Road in Rochester, pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts each of endangering the welfare of a child. Thurber also pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana.

The charges stemmed from an incident Wednesday where Mancini and Thurber entered the Lowell Street church with her three children for the purpose of sacrificing them, according to police.

The incident occurred about 3 p.m. and was reported to police by church staff.

During the arraignment on Friday, Mancini appeared flustered and confused. Throughout, she made several hand and facial gestures at Thurber, while at other times, placed her head down on the table and covered her ears with her hands.

Thurber stood quietly while the lawyers gave their arguments.

Attorneys for both defendants said Mancini never intended to hurt any of her children.

"They were never tied to the altar, there was no blood, there were no constraints for sacrificial use," said Kimberly Shoen, Mancini’s attorney.

According to Linda Slamon, Thurber’s attorney, Thurber said Mancini had been acting "irrationally" recently, and Thurber accompanied her to church to get her help.

"If anything, he was there to protect the children and protect Miss Mancini," Slamon said.

Each of the child endangerment charges stem from accusations that Mancini and Thurber entered the church "for the purpose of sacrificing (their lives) to God." The charges were read aloud at the arraignment by Judge Bruce Larson.

After their arrest, police charged that Mancini wanted to sacrifice all three children, but a church staff member said Mancini indicated she wanted to sacrifice only one of the children at the church altar.

Rochester Police Detective Eric Dugas argued for $25,000 cash bail for both Thurber and Mancini.

But Shoen argued the bail was unjust because her client was not a flight risk and had no prior criminal record.

"Zero. No convictions, no jail time. Zero," Shoen said. "There’s no reason for bail to be that high."

"Other than the point she’s charged with trying to sacrifice them," Dugas responded.

Dugas also argued that Thurber was an acting participant in the incident, he knew of her desire to sacrifice her children, and they had talked about it beforehand.

Larson eventually set Mancini’s bail at $25,000 personal recognizance and $500 cash bail. Thurber’s bail was set at $25,000 personal recognizance and $500 cash surety.

Mancini and Thurber are both allowed to see the children, but only under strict supervision. The children, ages 9, 7, and 1½, were put into the custody of the Division for Children Youth and Families after the incident. Thurber and Mancini are the youngest child’s parents.

Judge Larson also said he would take issues of Mancini’s competency under advisement.

A trial date is scheduled for April 8, 2005.