Army Major, Wife Accused of Abusing Adopted Children Given New Trial Date

Less than a month after a Federal Court Judge declared a mistrial, an Army Major and his wife accused of abusing their adopted children will be prosecuted in a court of law in 2015.

According to nj.com, Judge Katherine Hayden set a date of March 2, 2015 for jury selection with a trial expected to begin in mid-April.

Army Major John Jackson and his wife, Carolyn, were indicted on 17 counts of various child endangerment and abuse offenses for allegedly beating, starving, and abusing their three adopted children between 2005 and 2010 while stationed at Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township.

A mistrial was declared in the original trial on Nov. 14 when a prosecutor made mention of the death of one of the children, a piece of evidence deemed off-limits during pre-trial hearings.

The Jackson’s oldest biological son, 16, testified in the original trial that his mother would often hit an adopted son for not getting into car seats quickly enough, and two adopted daughters were forced to eat hot sauce and red pepper flakes. When the children were taken into protective services in 2010, they were allegedly malnourished and severely dehydrated.

If convicted, each of the parents would face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 for each charge.