N.J. military couple convicted of abusing three foster children
NEWARK, N.J. - A New Jersey military couple accused of abusing three foster children have been convicted of most of the charges against them.
A federal jury in Newark returned the verdicts Wednesday after deliberating for about five days.
John Jackson was convicted of 10 of 13 counts, and wife Carolyn was found guilty on 12 of 13 counts. They will remain free on bail until their October sentencing.
John Jackson was an Army major at Picatinny Arsenal when prosecutors say the crimes occurred. The couple now lives in Burlington County, New Jersey.
Federal prosecutors say the foster children suffered injuries including a broken arm and fractured spine and were severely underweight when they were removed in 2010.
Prosecutors say they were forced to eat hot pepper flakes and drink hot sauce as punishment.
According to CBS New York, the Jacksons told their three biological children that punishments against their adopted kids were justified because they were "training" them how to behave. They also told the children not to report the alleged abuse to others, prosecutors said.
"Carolyn and John Jackson are charged with unimaginable cruelty to children they were trusted to protect," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman told the station in 2013. "The crimes alleged should not happen to any child anywhere and it is deeply disturbing that they would happen on a military installation."