NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on the resentencing of a former Army major and his wife convicted of physically abusing their three young foster children (all times local):
5:25 p.m.
Defense attorneys have offered arguments at the resentencing of a former Army couple convicted on multiple counts of abusing their young foster children.
One of the former foster children spoke to the court Wednesday and said she endured constant physical abuse between the ages of 2 and 4. She’s now 12.
Defense lawyers said the couple shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for the children’s health problems, which included broken bones and severe under-development.
One of the children died, but John and Carolyn Jackson weren’t charged with his death.
The Jacksons’ original sentence of probation and two years in prison was thrown out by a federal appeals court last year. Prosecutors had sought 15 and 19 years.
The judge says she’ll impose a sentence Thursday.
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11:35 a.m.
A 12-year-old girl has said she was hit and constantly punished by a former Army couple who are in court for their resentencing.
The girl lived with former Army Maj. John Jackson and wife Carolyn from ages 2 to 4. She told a judge Wednesday that she doesn’t remember everything from that period but that remembers ’being hit and punished constantly.’ She also said she still bears psychological scars from the abuse.
The government presented evidence at their 2015 trial that the Jacksons beat the children regularly and denied them food, water and medical care. An older sibling testified the youngsters were forced to eat hot pepper flakes and drink hot sauce as punishment.
Prosecutors sought prison sentences of 15 to 19 years, but a judge sentenced them to probation and two years. An appeals court threw out the sentences last year for being too lenient.
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12:05 a.m.
A former Army major and his wife convicted of abusing their young foster children over several years are due back in court for a resentencing after their original sentence was thrown out for being too lenient.
John and Carolyn Jackson are set to appear in federal court in Newark on Wednesday.
The Jacksons lived at the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal facility when they were charged in 2013.
After their first trial ended in a mistrial, they were convicted on multiple counts of child endangerment in 2015. A judge sentenced John Jackson to probation and Carolyn Jackson to two years in prison. Prosecutors had sought sentences of 15 to 19 years.
Prosecutors presented evidence that the Jacksons regularly beat the children and denied them food, water and medical care.
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