LONGVIEW, WA (KPTV) -
A verdict is expected Tuesday for a Longview couple accused of withholding food from their five adopted children.
Because it is a bench trial, a judge - not a jury - will decide whether Jeffrey and Rebecca Trebilcock are guilty of criminal mistreatment.
Investigators said the Trebilcocks' adopted children were malnourished and neglected.
Investigators also said the couple installed an alarm in the kitchen to keep the children from getting into the food themselves. When Rebecca Trebilcock took the stand, however, she said the intent of the alarm was to protect the children.
"If a burglar were to come down the hall where the bedrooms are and everyone is sleeping it would go off. In the other direction, the alarm would prevent one of our boys from going out of the house," she said.
The children testified during the trial they were slapped with a board as punishment and ate dog and goat food because they were so hungry.
State investigators, dieticians and doctors also testified on behalf of the prosecution.
The defense argued food was always plentiful and that at least one of the children ate dog food by choice.
The verdict is expected to be read at 1 p.m. Monday.
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