Faith-healing trial verdict is in | Crime

OREGON CITY, Ore. – The jury has reached a verdict on the Oregon City trial of two parents, charged with criminally negligent homicide, whose 16-year-old boy died in 2008.

Testimony had wrapped up Thursday, Jan. 28, in the trial, with Marci Beagley crying on the witness stand and telling a prosecutor she never believed her son Neil would die from what appeared to be a cold or the flu.

At 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, the jury announced its findings:

• Jeff Beagley: Guilty
• Marci Beagley: Guilty

The jury voted 10 for the guilty verdict, and 2 against it. Oregon is a rare state that allows non-unanimous verdicts (11 to 1 or 10 to 2) in cases like this.

Additionally, criminally negligent homicide is not one of Oregon's Measure 11 offenses with minimum sentencing requirements. As such, the judge will have discretion in handing down punishment.

Because the Beagley's don't have a prior criminal history, the state's sentencing guidelines for a criminally negligent homicide conviction call for 16 to 18 months in prison.

The law allows the judge to give more time if he believes there are circumstances that aggravate the severity of the crime, or he could go the other way - even choosing probation instead of any jail time.

After the verdict was read, the Beagleys were released. It's not unusual for non-violent offenders to be released after a verdict is given.

Attorneys for the state had requested that both defendants be taken into custody. However, the judge on this case - Judge Maurer - said he believes they are not a flight risk. The couple will be bound by their current bond.

They are scheduled to return to the courtroom 9 a.m., Feb. 18, for sentencing.

A look back: Our continuing coverage of this trial