Post by Amaris on Mar 10, 2010 15:19:48 GMT
Judge sends message with prison terms in faith-healing case
By Steven Mayes, The Oregonian
March 08, 2010, 8:15PM
Jeffrey and Marci Beagley are handcuffed and taken into custody Monday after being sentenced to 16 months in prison in the faith-healing death of their son.
A Clackamas County judge delivered a clear message to members of an Oregon City faith-healing church on Monday when he sent two of its members to prison for criminally negligent homicide: If you fail to properly care for your children, a similar fate may await you.
Presiding Judge Steven L. Maurer sentenced Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to 16 months in prison. The couple, who belong to the Followers of Christ church, were convicted last month for the death of their 16-year-old son, Neil.
Although children of the Followers of Christ have died of treatable medical conditions for decades, this is the first time church members have been sent to prison for failing to provide medical care. Maurer said he hoped the Beagley sentences would cause church members to seek treatment for their children.
The Beagleys and their extended family do not use doctors for medical care, believing it shows a lack of faith in God. Instead they rely on spiritual treatment: prayer, fasting, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands.
About 80 church members and supporters attended the hearing. They sat silently as the sentence was imposed, many of them in tears. Marci Beagley's mother began sobbing and was comforted by family members.
Maurer indirectly addressed them, saying that of all the people in Clackamas County, those who attend the 1,200-member church "are most likely to place their children at risk."
When a child's safety is at stake, there are boundaries and community standards and you ignored them, Maurer told the Beagleys. Neil would be alive if you "would have done what this community expects every parent to do" and call a doctor, he said.
"The fact is, too many children have died. Unnecessarily, needlessly, they died," Maurer said. "It has to stop. This has to stop," said Maurer, aiming his comments at the Beagleys and church members who attended the sentencing.
Maurer said the Neil's death was part of a larger, troubling pattern.
Dozens of the Follower's children have died of treatable conditions since the 1950s, and a few mothers died in childbirth. The deaths led the Oregon Legislature to modify state law in 1999 to eliminate legal immunity in some cases for parents who treat their children solely with faith healing. The change did not effect the criminally negligent homicide statute.
The Beagleys did not comment and were taken from the courtroom in handcuffs. They remained in holding cells at the courthouse until 3:30 p.m. in an effort to avoid television news crews waiting outside.
Wayne Mackeson, who represented Jeffrey Beagley, said the couple would file an appeal. "To me, it's one battle in a larger war," Mackeson said. The case improperly turned into a referendum on the church, he said.
In the Beagleys' case, state sentencing guidelines call for up to 18 months in prison, which is what prosecutors requested. "The court has the opportunity to deliver a clear message that this idea that one can let a child die while they're praying without medical attention is not supportable," said Greg Horner, chief deputy district attorney. "It must be addressed."
The Beagleys knew Neil was ill two weeks before he died in June 2008 from complications of a urinary tract blockage, they testified. Despite the boy's failing health, the Beagleys didn't take Neil to a doctor. Instead, they decided to honor the boy's wish to put his fate in God's hands.
The Beagley's son-in-law, Carl Brent Worthington served 60 days in jail last year for criminal mistreatment in the death of his 15-month-old daughter, Ava, who died of a blood infection.
Maurer, who also presided at the Worthington trial, said the Beagleys failed to acknowledge the consequences of their beliefs.
The couple was present when Ava Worthington died in March 2008. When the Worthington and Beagley children stopped breathing no one "raised the issue of calling for an ambulance or going to an emergency room," Maurer said.
The emotional strain of case showed in Maurer's tone and expression.
"The idea of sending Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to prison is heart-wrenching," Maurer said. "This has been a heart-breaking case on several levels."
Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote said Monday he still plans to reach out to church members once the emotional impact of the Beagley case subsides.
After the Beagleys were convicted, Foote said he wanted to work with the church to make sure children receive appropriate medical care and don't suffer needlessly.
"There is simply no excuse for it," Foote said. "We can't seem to get through to the members of the church that they can't refuse to give their kids medical care, particularly when their kids' lives are at risk.
"This all lies in the hearts and souls of the members of the church."
-- Steve Mayes
www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/03/judge_sends_message_with_priso.html
By Steven Mayes, The Oregonian
March 08, 2010, 8:15PM
Jeffrey and Marci Beagley are handcuffed and taken into custody Monday after being sentenced to 16 months in prison in the faith-healing death of their son.
A Clackamas County judge delivered a clear message to members of an Oregon City faith-healing church on Monday when he sent two of its members to prison for criminally negligent homicide: If you fail to properly care for your children, a similar fate may await you.
Presiding Judge Steven L. Maurer sentenced Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to 16 months in prison. The couple, who belong to the Followers of Christ church, were convicted last month for the death of their 16-year-old son, Neil.
Although children of the Followers of Christ have died of treatable medical conditions for decades, this is the first time church members have been sent to prison for failing to provide medical care. Maurer said he hoped the Beagley sentences would cause church members to seek treatment for their children.
The Beagleys and their extended family do not use doctors for medical care, believing it shows a lack of faith in God. Instead they rely on spiritual treatment: prayer, fasting, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands.
About 80 church members and supporters attended the hearing. They sat silently as the sentence was imposed, many of them in tears. Marci Beagley's mother began sobbing and was comforted by family members.
Maurer indirectly addressed them, saying that of all the people in Clackamas County, those who attend the 1,200-member church "are most likely to place their children at risk."
When a child's safety is at stake, there are boundaries and community standards and you ignored them, Maurer told the Beagleys. Neil would be alive if you "would have done what this community expects every parent to do" and call a doctor, he said.
"The fact is, too many children have died. Unnecessarily, needlessly, they died," Maurer said. "It has to stop. This has to stop," said Maurer, aiming his comments at the Beagleys and church members who attended the sentencing.
Maurer said the Neil's death was part of a larger, troubling pattern.
Dozens of the Follower's children have died of treatable conditions since the 1950s, and a few mothers died in childbirth. The deaths led the Oregon Legislature to modify state law in 1999 to eliminate legal immunity in some cases for parents who treat their children solely with faith healing. The change did not effect the criminally negligent homicide statute.
The Beagleys did not comment and were taken from the courtroom in handcuffs. They remained in holding cells at the courthouse until 3:30 p.m. in an effort to avoid television news crews waiting outside.
Wayne Mackeson, who represented Jeffrey Beagley, said the couple would file an appeal. "To me, it's one battle in a larger war," Mackeson said. The case improperly turned into a referendum on the church, he said.
In the Beagleys' case, state sentencing guidelines call for up to 18 months in prison, which is what prosecutors requested. "The court has the opportunity to deliver a clear message that this idea that one can let a child die while they're praying without medical attention is not supportable," said Greg Horner, chief deputy district attorney. "It must be addressed."
The Beagleys knew Neil was ill two weeks before he died in June 2008 from complications of a urinary tract blockage, they testified. Despite the boy's failing health, the Beagleys didn't take Neil to a doctor. Instead, they decided to honor the boy's wish to put his fate in God's hands.
The Beagley's son-in-law, Carl Brent Worthington served 60 days in jail last year for criminal mistreatment in the death of his 15-month-old daughter, Ava, who died of a blood infection.
Maurer, who also presided at the Worthington trial, said the Beagleys failed to acknowledge the consequences of their beliefs.
The couple was present when Ava Worthington died in March 2008. When the Worthington and Beagley children stopped breathing no one "raised the issue of calling for an ambulance or going to an emergency room," Maurer said.
The emotional strain of case showed in Maurer's tone and expression.
"The idea of sending Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to prison is heart-wrenching," Maurer said. "This has been a heart-breaking case on several levels."
Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote said Monday he still plans to reach out to church members once the emotional impact of the Beagley case subsides.
After the Beagleys were convicted, Foote said he wanted to work with the church to make sure children receive appropriate medical care and don't suffer needlessly.
"There is simply no excuse for it," Foote said. "We can't seem to get through to the members of the church that they can't refuse to give their kids medical care, particularly when their kids' lives are at risk.
"This all lies in the hearts and souls of the members of the church."
-- Steve Mayes
www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/03/judge_sends_message_with_priso.html
Why didn't the authorities get involved, they knew this was going on, children are at risk. Don't they take children away from negligent parents in the USA or does the religion card play it's hand.
