Couple indicted on 63 counts of abuse: 5 adopted children were mistreated for years, charges say

Aug. 10--MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- A 63-count indictment charges a former Marysville couple with repeatedly abusing their five adopted children.

James E. Ferguson, 46, and Vonda L. Ferguson, 43, were indicted by a Union County grand jury that charged a "continuing course of criminal conduct" involving the children. The indictment says the children, now ages 6 to 16, were abused for more than four years in Marysville and Springfield, where the Fergusons now live. Some of the charges returned Friday accuse the couple of injuring the children while torturing, cruelly abusing and confining them beginning in July 2000. The three boys and two girls were removed from the Fergusons' custody in November 2004, after authorities received a complaint that the children were being abused. Mr. Ferguson is charged with 20 counts of child endangering, five of permitting child abuse and five of felonious assault.

Mrs. Ferguson is charged with 20 counts of child endangering, five of permitting child abuse, six of felonious assault and two of rape.

They declined comment when reached at their home yesterday. In a written statement, Kerry Donahue, a Dublin lawyer representing Mr. Ferguson, said his client will plead not guilty and ultimately will be cleared of the charges. Gregory Lind, a Springfield lawyer representing Mrs. Ferguson, could not be reached for comment. The Fergusons were issued a summons to appear for arraignment Tuesday before Union County Common Pleas Judge Richard Parrott. The couple voluntarily relinquished their parental rights to the children a year ago, officials said. Spokesmen for the sheriff's office and Union County Children Services would not provide details. Prosecutor David Phillips also refused to discuss specifics of the case. WBNS-TV (Channel 10) reporter James Black contributed to this story. rludlow@dispatch.com