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Sam Penrod Reporting"I think it is a good settlement in the interest of the children."
More than three years after a Utah County couple is accused of starving two of their children, a plea deal is reached, on the eve of a trial that was suppose to last two and a half months.
It was supposed to be one of the longest jury trials ever in Utah County, but today a plea deal was reached that will keep the young children from having to testify.
The defendants adopted three children from a Russian orphanage, but authorities say two of the young children suffered from severe malnourishment, which they say their parents used as a form of punishment.
Reed and Teresa Hansen left court today after taking a plea deal to misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment in a child abuse case which law enforcement called one of the worst they'd ever seen. The Hansen's adopted three children from Russia. A five-year old boy and four-year old girl were allegedly not fed when they misbehaved.
Sherry Ragan, Prosecutor: "They were pretty malnourished and pretty close to being starved. And there is some disagreement how they got to that condition, but at least I think the defendants have agreed that they neglected them and didn't give them the medical help they needed."
As part of the plea deal, the Hansens will pay 35-thousand dollars into a trust fund to benefit the two victims.
Sherry Ragan, Prosecutor: "We have agreed not to recommend any jail time or any further fines, and they are going to fund these trust funds for the kids to help take care of the children."
Prosecutors say the two children are now doing fine and it made sense to settle the case without a trial, to save the children from re-living what happened to them.
Sherry Ragan, Prosecutor: "The defendants gave up their rights to these children and the children have now been adopted by separate families. They are doing well in school and seem happy with the families they are with."
The Hansen's will have a sentencing hearing on Monday when their ten-week trial was suppose to have started. Again there will be no jail time, but they will be on probation for two years.
