A couple who tortured their adopted children in a ‘dungeon’ have been given a lighter sentence after taking a plea deal.
Charles, 64 and Matthew Edmonson, 50, pleaded guilty on 27 December.
The 50-year-old confessed to five counts of child endangering, while her husband admitted to kidnapping, felonious assault and three counts of child endangering.
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The pair were sentenced in Clermont County, Ohio, for the abuse they inflicted on five boys – four of whom had special needs.
The children are biological brothers who were adopted by the Edmonson’s – aged 13 and 11, as well as a set of triples aged eight.
Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office initially stated that the Edmonson couple faced potential sentences totalling more than 200 years.
However, the plea deal saw Charles and Matthew given just 15 years and 13 years respectively.
As part of the new agreement, prosecutors dismissed 48 counts against Charles, as well as the possibility of him receiving a life sentence.
Meanwhile 44 counts were dismissed against Matthew, as reported by Need To Know.
Clermont County prosecuting attorney, Mark J. Tekulve, described the treatment of the five sons as “worse than prisoners of war”.
Tekulve added: “The videos of these undernourished and naked children huddled up in a locked room in the basement, on the stone-cold basement floor like a pile of puppies trying to stay together to keep warm, are nothing short of gut-wrenching.
“These two are unfit to be parents, and I am grateful to those who have worked tirelessly to make sure they will not be.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time and will not be the last time that my office has had to seek indictment for people like this who pretend to be ‘parents.’
“The monstrous acts they were subjected to will no longer be a barrier to their development.
“While they will likely need mental health intervention the rest of their lives, physically and emotionally, they are flourishing.”
The Edmondson’s biological son, Bailey, was also sentenced alongside his parents to two years probation after pleading guilty to three misdemeanour counts of child endangering, according to the Enquirer.
The couple were first accused of child abuse in June 2024.
The investigation followed a separate case against Charles, which led to him receiving a three-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting another one of his adopted sons.
