CAMARILLO : Gifts Surprise Father Reunited With Kids

After driving 1,764 miles in two days with the two children he had been searching for since August, James Moats returned home to Camarillo just in time for Christmas.

Moats said he and his children, James, 5, and Jessica, 9, were taken by surprise by the Christmas decorations and presents left inside the house by friends and relatives.

“We drove up and saw all the decorations and figured that was it. Then we went inside and we were just like--whoa! We were real surprised,” Moats said.

The family was reunited Thursday, when Moats found the children living with their mother in Missouri. Sherry Kay Moats, 35, was arrested on child abduction charges.

Saturday, the children were riding bicycles and playing outside their house in Camarillo.

“We’re just having a great time. They’re happy to be home,” Moats said.

He said his mother, friends and Deputy Dist. Atty. Pam Grossman, who helped find the children, were among his Christmas visitors.

Moats said that while he was pleased with his family reunion, his holiday joy was tempered because of his knowledge of other parents searching for children who are still missing.

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of other kids out there who aren’t as lucky,” he said.