FAIRBANKS — A North Pole man faces 18 months in jail and possible deportation after pleading guilty to physically abusing his 7-year-old stepson by pouring hot sauce onto his face and whipping him with a coaxial cable. His wife, the boy’s mother, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to a lesser assault charge.
As part of a plea deal agreed to Monday by both parents, Pablo Manuel Crisostomo-Correa, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree felony assault. His attorney, Jesse Mickels, indicated Crisostomo-Correa likely will be deported because of the felony conviction, although he did not say what country Crisostomo-Correa would be returned to.
The mother, Ashley Kamm, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor assault. In addition to 45 days she has served, she will be on probation for three years and must take parenting and anger management classes.
Alaska State Troopers began investigating the couple in March after other family members observed evidence of abuse, according to the case against them. Troopers said the boy missed 30 days of school this spring and had bruises and welts on his body. He told troopers his stepfather had whipped him with a cable and poured hot sauce over his eyes and mouth. He said his mother held him down during the hot sauce incidents and once choked him with both hands so he could not breathe.
Kamm’s attorney, Susan Carney, said Kamm does not believe she’s done the things she is accused of, but pleaded guilty because she wanted to put the case behind her. Kamm is pregnant with another child and is scheduled to give birth within the month.
“I want to thank the court and yourself for your compassion and your understanding,” Kamm said when given the opportunity to speak before sentencing.
In accepting the plea agreement, Superior Court Judge Robert Downes said he trusted the lawyers to reach a fair resolution. Now that they have pleaded, Downes lifted an order banning Kamm and Crisostomo-Correa from talking to each other.
The couple sat next each other at the defendants’ table. Crisostomo-Correa remains in custody, while Kamm was previously released to the custody of her aunt and uncle.
