Sarah Session was sentenced to 216 months in prison on nine criminal counts on Tuesday, March 31
Credit: Deschutes County Sheriffs Office
NEED TO KNOW
- On Tuesday, March 31, Sarah Session, 34, was sentenced to 216 months for the assault, criminal mistreatment and coercion of her then-9-year-old stepson
- This reportedly included forcing the boy to eat his own vomit, according to Oregon news outlets KATU and KTVZ
- Session’s parents were also sentenced for their involvement in the abuse
An Oregon woman has reportedly been sentenced to more than 17 years for the assault and criminal mistreatment of her then-9-year-old stepson, during which she forced the child to eat his own vomit.
On Tuesday, March 31, Sarah Session, 34, was sentenced to 216 months on nine criminal counts at Deschutes County Circuit Court, according to local news outlets KATU and KTVZ. It came after Sessions was found guilty of assault, criminal mistreatment and coercion on Thursday, March 5, KTVZ previously reported.
Session, who had her initial charge of attempted murder dismissed in January, continually used a curtain rod window stopper to abuse the boy, and even forced him to consume his own sick at one point, per court records obtained by KATU.
Credit: Deschutes County Sheriffs Office
Her parents were also sentenced, with Paula Hardenburg, 61, being sentenced to 70 months in prison on two counts of criminal mistreatment, second-degree assault and tampering with physical evidence, per the outlet.
Gary Hardenburg, 66, was also sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of probation on charges of criminal mistreatment and tampering with physical evidence, according to KATU.
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The boy in question, who is now 11 years old, gave statements in court, per KTVZ. Speaking through the phone, he stated that he was not allowed to speak with his father after he left the family.
“You called him a monster. … You took your anger out on me by beating on me,” he told the court about his stepmother, per KTVZ. “You forced me to eat my own vomit.”
“You beat me, you lied to me. … I wish I didn’t have to live with the horrible flashbacks of what you did to me at that house. I will need therapy for the rest of my life. … Even though I have a good support system, I still carry all this with me," he added.
The boy, whose identity has not been revealed, said he wanted to be a lawyer one day, and added that his stepmom would “have to answer to Jesus and explain what you did to me.”
Footage also revealed that the boy had been kept isolated in a room while tied to a chair.
Credit: Deschutes County Sheriffs Office
“I’m a little troubled by the fact that he is now 11, has been interviewed multiple times,” Circuit Judge Alison Emerson told the court, per KTVZ. “At no point did anyone say ‘Sorry’ to him.”
Speaking to the child, she added, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry you went through this trauma,” the outlet added.
“At any point, if any of the caregivers had intervened, this would have a far different case,” Emerson continued, per KTVZ. “For a detective finding all those videos, it would have been a very difficult case. I’m not sure anyone would have believed him.”
Deputy District Attorney Stacy Neil also previously said that Session showed no remorse following the verdict in phone calls from jail.
“I did nothing wrong. This isn’t fair,” she reportedly told Neil, per KTVZ.
This runs contrary to her statement read out in court, during which KTVZ reported that Session said she was “embarrassed, humiliated and deeply sorry.”
She added that she “did not try to kill or harm (her stepson). I tried to get him the help he needed. While I did not commit all the crimes I am accused of, I am deeply sorry.”
PEOPLE reached out to Deschutes County District Attorney's Office and Deschutes County Circuit Court for comment but didn't immediately receive responses.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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