Children forced to work long hours picking pecans along the Utah-Arizona border will finally get paid.
A federal judge ordered Paragon Contractors to pay $200,000 in back wages to children as young as 6-years-old.
The company, with ties to a polygamous sect, used children from the community to harvest nuts during the 2012 season.
In some cases, the judge learned they were forced to work in cold weather with little food and few bathroom breaks.
Paragon’s attorney claimed the children were glad to help with the harvest. But, the company agreed to pay a $15,000 retainer and $300 an hour in legal fees to an outside attorney who will monitor business operations for five years.
