JUNEAU, Alaska – An Alaska appeals court has affirmed the conviction of an Anchorage woman whom prosecutors said used a videotape of herself punishing her son to try to get on the “Dr. Phil” show.
Jessica Beagley in 2011 was convicted of misdemeanour child abuse for punishing her adopted Russian son by putting hot sauce into his mouth. She received probation and a suspended jail sentence.
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In her appeal, she argued, among other things, that the wording of the ordinance she was prosecuted under was vague.
The Court of Appeals acknowledged potential problems with what constitutes “reasonable parental discipline” under the ordinance.
But judges say jurors weren’t asked to decide if Beagley used unreasonable discipline but whether she even engaged in discipline or mistreated her son as a ploy to get on TV.
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