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Foster parents in Oregon who mistreated 2 preschoolers get 30 months

Published  August 10, 2016 10:11pm PDT
Associated Press

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) — A man and woman accused of severe abuse against their foster children pleaded guilty to criminal mistreatment charges and were each sentenced to 30 months in prison Tuesday.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://goo.gl/BHvSTZ ) John and Danielle Yates of rural Yamhill County were sentenced Tuesday.


As part of a deal with prosecutors, each pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal mistreatment for withholding food.



When the children left the couple's home, they weighed only a few ounces more than they did more than two years earlier. Doctors said both preschoolers could have died had the starvation lasted much longer.

The case has also prompted a $30 million lawsuit against Oregon's Department of Human Services, with lawyers for the siblings accusing child welfare caseworkers and their supervisors and managers of overlooking repeated complaints.

Offered a chance to speak, neither the woman nor man said a word.