Lynn and Clinton Engstrom were set to go on trial today.
It's not happening.
From The Northwestern:
Two Oshkosh parents accused of confining their 13-year-old daughter to her room for 22 hours a day for almost two years will not be allowed to have contact with the girl for the next four years under an agreement reached Monday by prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Clint Engstrom, 32, and Lynn Engstrom, 35, both entered no contest pleas and entered into deferred adjudication agreements before Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Key during a hearing Monday morning. Clint Engstrom was charged with causing mental harm to a child by failing to protect the child and Lynn Engstrom was charged with causing mental harm to a child. The maximum penalty each faced was 12 years, six months in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Under the agreement, the Engstroms are not allowed to initiate any contact with the girl without permission from the Winnebago County Department of Human Services and they must continue any counseling they are currently receiving. The agreement would last until the girl is 18 years old. If they violate terms of the agreement, the Winnebago County District Attorney's Office will recommend they serve at least six years in prison.
Winnebago County District Attorney Christian Gossett said his primary goal was that the girl, who is living with her grandmother, would not be in the custody of her parents.
So all the parents have to do is relinquish their rights to see their daughter.
That's their punishment, that and continuing to undergo counseling.
That's it.
No fine. No prison time. Nothing.
While I agree with Gossett that keeping the girl out of the custody of her parents was an important goal, I question the failure to punish the parents for their allegedly monstrous behavior.
Do the Engstroms have custody of their other children?
If so, is that wise?
Given their track record, I would say NO.
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