INDEPENDENCE, MO. ? Prosecutors pleaded Wednesday for victims of a scam in which a couple faked the birth of sextuplets to come forward so that charges could possibly be upgraded.

Sarah and Kris Everson, of Grain Valley, appeared in Jackson County Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing, which was continued until June 21. The Eversons are charged with theft for soliciting gifts from neighbors after concocting a complex tale of their multiple births.

Mike Sanders, the Jackson County prosecutor, said an investigation into how much the couple actually collected was ongoing, but the total was more than $3,500. The amount was believed to be higher, he said, but authorities need those who gave to the couple to acknowledge they were scammed.

Charges could be upgraded if the tally were to reach $25,000.

Grain Valley community leaders have said Sarah, who is 45, and Kris, 34, came to them in March, saying they had delivered six critically ill babies and needed help. The couple claimed the births were being kept secret by a court order because a family member was out to kill them.

Within days of the story appearing on the front of the local paper here, The Examiner, the couple was barraged by questions from the media and ultimately admitted to reporters and police that the entire thing was a lie. They said they needed the cash.

The Eversons would not speak with reporters after Wednesday’s brief hearing. Their public defender, Kalpesh Patel, argued against the presence of cameras in the courtroom, saying he had not received advance notice and it would be unfair to his clients.

Judge Jeffrey Bushur, however, sided with Sanders, who said the public had a great interest in the case and had the right to view proceedings through the media.

“What was ironic about the request,” Sanders said, “was that arguably the greatest seekers of the media in this case have been the defendants themselves.”

If convicted on the charges they now face, the Eversons each face up to seven years in prison, though Sanders said a plea deal might be considered after the total amount of money stolen is determined.