Judge Tim Chambers sentenced the Arlington Couple charged with abusing their adoptive son Friday afternoon, and granted both community corrections in the case, but also ordered house arrest for 60-days as part of the 24-months corrections for Leigh and Jerome Foster.
The two entered a plea to a reduced charge of domestic battery as opposed to child abuse. The two went to trial and the jury had a mixed verdict, finding them guilty on the intimidation counts, but were hung on the abuse counts. But, the state apparently intended to re-try them, so the pair entered the plea instead.
Leigh and Jerome Foster were charged with tasing their adopted son and later charged with intimidating him over his testimony as well as another witness who actually filmed one of the tasing incidents. But, the jury couldn’t decide if the tasing was done for punishment, or as part of just horse play as the defense contends.
The defense in the case contends that the adopted son of the Foster’s is making all this up because they wouldn’t let him play sports. But, there was the tape of him being tased and the defense argued they were just kidding around. Both defense attorney’s Alice Osburn who represented Leigh Foster and Sarah Sweet-McKinnon asked for a judgment of acquittal or a new trial for their clients, which was denied by Judge Chambers.
Judge Chambers while announcing the sentences stated it doesn’t matter whether the tasing incidents were joking around or not, it was still abuse, and told the two sides that if it was joking around, it’s a “sadistic kind of humor,” if in fact that is what it was.
He also ordered a mental evaluation for Leigh Foster, and abuse counseling for Jerome Foster. The mental evaluation order coming after Leigh Foster more or less gave the judge a lecture on abuse, saying she works to stop abuse of animals and that in many cases, abuse of people starts with the abuse of animals.
The two intimidation incidents, allegedly occurring on April 22, and May 18, of last year. The alleged crimes involving the abuse occurring between September 1, and November 14, of 2010.