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Judge finds Wellsville man guilty on all counts of starving children

THOMPSON

LISBON — Jason Thompson, the Wellsville man accused of helping to starve his girlfriend’s three sons in the summer of 2015, was found guilty by Judge Scott Washam on all six counts of endangering children.

Thompson, 42, formerly of Commerce Street, Wellsville, had requested a trial directly to Washam, which was held early last week.

Friday in county Common Pleas Court, Washam announced his decision, meticulously going through the evidence he had considered and even showing some emotion as he talked about the youngest boy getting food from the trash for him and his brothers to eat.

Washam pointed out the boys’ weight loss was not due to the Adderall two of them were taking because of the attention deficit disorder (ADD), which was the argument made by the defense. Medical records showed once the boys were given good, wholesome food every day, they gained weight again despite still taking their Adderall.

“Dr. (John) Melville’s diagnosis was simple and direct,” Washam said, “Physical abuse by food deprivation … The actions of the defendant caused serious physical harm to (the boys).”

After the hearing, Assistant County Prosecutor Timothy McNicol said he was very pleased with the ruling, especially when Washam pointed out that he found Thompson to be the “dominant parental figure” in the boys’ lives, noting Thompson was controlling and what happened to the boys was “due to his actions and to the mother’s inactions.”

Jaime Emery, 35, the boys’ mother, pleaded guilty in early September to three counts of endangering children, each carrying a possible maximum sentence of eight years for a total of 24 years. She is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 18.

Thompson, found guilty of the six counts, could face up to 11 years for each boy for a possible maximum sentence of 33 years. However, McNicol said the charges based on the same evidence may be combined as to sentencing. Washam scheduled a sentencing hearing for Nov. 4.

“I can’t say enough about the professionals at the Wellsville Local School District, who stepped up and made sure someone took notice,” McNicol said, adding the investigation by Paula Beverly and police Lt. Marsha Eisenhart “made it possible to get this conviction.”

Eisenhart was one of several people who attended Friday’s ruling hearing and said the boys are doing better, but it will be a long process for them as they recover from the long-term mental effects of what happened to them. She asked people in the community to continue praying for the boys and keep an eye out for other neglected children, especially with the current heroin crisis going on.

Additionally, she thanked the people in the village who came together with donations and toys for the boys for Christmas last year.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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