LONGVIEW, WA (KPTV) -
The Longview couple accused of withholding food from their five adopted children are guilty of two counts of criminal mistreatment, one of those counts a felony that carries a sentence of up to five-and-a-half years in prison.
A judge delivered the verdict in the case of Jeffrey and Rebecca Trebilcock on Tuesday afternoon. He found them not guilty on 11 other counts.
A sentencing date is set for Aug. 23. The felony criminal mistreatment conviction, which was related to the couple's adopted son, means the Trebilcocks could spend four-and-a-half to five-and-a-half years in prison.
During the trial, one of the adopted children said he ate goat food and dog food, "because I didn't get to eat anything else and I was hungry." The boy said he relieved himself in a cup and was forced to drink his urine when he was caught.
The judge said the boy's injuries were severe and food was indeed withheld and that was the reason for the felony criminal mistreatment conviction.
Throughout the case, investigators said all 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.
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.
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