Father Whose Family Lived in Merle Hay Mall Store Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse

A Des Moines man accused of sexually abusing his children pleaded guilty to three counts in court Tuesday, reports WHOTV.com.

James Beaudrie, 37, was in Polk County District Court Tuesday morning for a pretrial conference. He was charged with nine counts of first degree sexual abuse for abusing three of his nine children.

While in court a deal was outlined, which has Beaudrie pleading guilty to three charges of first-degree sexual abuse. The plea means he could face up to 50 years in prison, the TV station says.

A judge said Beaudrie will be required to serve 75 percent of his sentence. WHO reports Beaudrie can still back out of the deal and the judge can make changes to it until it is finalized.

Beaudrie’s wife, Kijua, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for child neglect. Prosecutors say she knew about the abuse but did not stop it.

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According to the Des Moines Register, Polk County prosecutor Frank Severino said Kijua Beaudrie “not only knew that the sexual abuse was going on … but at times actually allowed it to continue” by taking other children and placing them in a different room.

Several of the Beaudries’ nine children reportedly wrote letters asking that their mother not be sent to prison.

Police said the family shuttled between living at the GameSip store at Merle Hay Mall and motels in the area.