CASPER
New member
A mother shown on TV advice show "Dr. Phil" forcing her 7 year-old son to swallow hot sauce and stand in a cold shower pleaded not guilty on Friday to a charge of child abuse.
The charge against Anchorage mother of six Jessica Beagley was based on footage aired on the TV show in November, when host Dr Phil McGraw told Beagley her actions were "totally outrageous" and "abusive."
Prosecutors in Anchorage concluded that her discipline of the boy -- who she adopted from Russia -- was "not reasonable."
The "Dr. Phil" video shows Beagley "forcing (the boy) to swish hot sauce in his mouth while yelling in his face and then forcing him to stand confined in a cold shower while she yelled at him," the charging document said.
Beagley was not required to be in court on Friday. But her attorney Peter Ramgren told reporters that she is "a loving mother to all of her children, including her two adopted children."
"Although one may disagree with her unorthodox style of discipline, it doesn't rise to the level of child abuse under the statute," Ramgren said.
During her TV appearance, Beagley said she imposed the punishment because the boy had misbehaved at school and other methods had failed to curb the problems.
The charge against Anchorage mother of six Jessica Beagley was based on footage aired on the TV show in November, when host Dr Phil McGraw told Beagley her actions were "totally outrageous" and "abusive."
Prosecutors in Anchorage concluded that her discipline of the boy -- who she adopted from Russia -- was "not reasonable."
The "Dr. Phil" video shows Beagley "forcing (the boy) to swish hot sauce in his mouth while yelling in his face and then forcing him to stand confined in a cold shower while she yelled at him," the charging document said.
Beagley was not required to be in court on Friday. But her attorney Peter Ramgren told reporters that she is "a loving mother to all of her children, including her two adopted children."
"Although one may disagree with her unorthodox style of discipline, it doesn't rise to the level of child abuse under the statute," Ramgren said.
During her TV appearance, Beagley said she imposed the punishment because the boy had misbehaved at school and other methods had failed to curb the problems.