Oregon Public Broadcasting

The father of an Oregon City toddler, who died last year after being denied medical care, has been found guilty of criminal mistreatment.

Ava Worthington’s mother was cleared of both criminal mistreatment and manslaughter in the second degree.

Kristian Foden-Vencil was in the courthouse when the verdict was read and joins me now. Welcome.

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Thank you

Beth Hyams: What was the reaction to the verdict?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: The judge had asked anyone who was likely to have an outburst at the verdict to leave the room. But it was packed with members of the Followers of Christ Church and when Brent Worthington was found guilty of criminal mistreatment, there was a muffled cry of anguish. That was even though he was cleared of the more severe charge.

Both Raylene and Brent Worthington were hustled off in a large car afterwards, and no church members seemed to want to talk.

Two women, Tami Pine and her daughter, from Southeast Portland, said they’ve been following the trial closely however. Here’s their reaction.

Tami Pine: “I think it’s ridiculous. I think they should have got the manslaughter two charges. That baby.  Why should she not be charged? I don’t understand that part what so ever.”

Kristian Foden-Vencil: It was an emotional scene, as you can tell.

Beth Hyams: Did any jury members talk afterwards?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Yes, Judge Steven Maurer asked the jurors whether they’d be willing to talk to the media and one woman volunteered, Ashlee Santos.

I asked her what message she’d taken away from this trial, especially as it relates to faith healing.

Ashlee Santos: “Just because something isn’t normal to you. It doesn’t mean it’s bad or doesn’t work. As parents we all make our own decisions and sometimes they’re not the best. But I really do feel like they were loving people who cared about their kids and truly didn’t mean for anything to happen so tried not to judge them on beliefs and religion, they’re just like everybody else, just a little bit different.”

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Other reporters wanted to know why Brent Worthington had been found guilty, while his wife was cleared of any wrong doing. Here was her explanation.

Ashlee Santos: “That’s kind of a hard one to sum up. My personal experiences in a marriage, most people they are partners, but a lot of the times it comes down to a deciding person in the home.”

Kristian Foden-Vencil: She said that she’d decided to find Brent guilty of criminal mistreatment because someone had to held responsible.

Beth Hyams: This is the first time that Oregon’s ten-year-old faith healing law has been tested in court. Did the juror give any indication whether it had proved difficult?

Kristian Foden-Vencil. In a nutshell, the law says that religion can’t be used as a defense in a case. But Santos says they managed to take the law and apply it.

Ashlee Santos: “Everybody’s entitled to their own beliefs and religion. And we all think it’s amazing the way their community is with each other. But I think when it comes to children I think there’s different steps. And I think what the state really tried is to protect kids. The state’s just doing what it needed to do.”

Beth Hyams:  Did lawyers talk to reporters afterwards?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well the prosecutor didn’t make himself available. But the two defense lawyers were there. Mark Cogan represented Brent Worthington and said his client was grateful not to be facing a manslaughter conviction, but was not exactly happy.

Mark Cogan: “Our client suffered a terrible loss. There’s really no winners here. Our clients are not celebrating a victory. They lost their child and that’s something that’s going to be a cause of sadness for the rest of their lives.”

Beth Hyams: So what’s next?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Cogan said they’re considering all legal options, including an appeal.

Brent Worthington’s sentencing is scheduled for a week from Friday.  He faces a year in jail but the judge could be lienient.