Former Picatinny major avoids prison in child abuse

A former Army major previously based at Picatinny Arsenal avoided prison Monday, receiving a sentence of probation and community service for the conviction alongside his wife of abusing their three young foster children in ways that included breaking their bones, denying them medical attention, withholding water and force-feeding them hot sauce.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, in a statement issued Monday night, said he was "disappointed" with the sentences imposed by U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court. Carolyn Jackson, 38, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and her husband, former Army Major John E. Jackson, 40, was sentenced to 400 hours of community service.

John Jackson was based at Picatinny when the crimes occurred. John Jackson was discharged from the Army in May 2015, according to documents in evidence at the trial.

The couple was last known to be living in Burlington County. The case fell under federal jurisdiction because the crimes were committed on a military base.

Hayden also sentenced both of the Jacksons to three years of supervised release. The government had been seeking sentences of more than 19 years and more than 15 years, respectively.

“In every case, our office seeks a sentence that is fair and just in punishing the defendants and offering justice to the victims of their crimes,” Fishman said. “In this case, those victims were the children entrusted to the Jacksons’ care. Using the federal sentencing guidelines, our analysis of the crimes of which the Jacksons were convicted by a jury called for severe penalties. Obviously, we are disappointed that the court did not agree.”

Hayden presided over a four-month trial in Newark that concluded with the Jacksons being found guilty in July of one count of conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child. Carolyn Jackson also was found guilty of 11 substantive counts of endangering the welfare of a child. John Jackson was found guilty of nine substantive counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Fishman's statement recounted revelations from the trial that from August 2005 until April 23, 2010, Carolyn and John Jackson conspired to engage in a constant course of neglect and cruelty towards three children they fostered and then adopted. The Jacksons told their biological children not to report the physical assaults to others, saying that the punishments and disciplinary techniques were justified, as they were “training” the adopted children how to behave.

After John Jackson was informed by a family friend that the oldest biological child had revealed the abuse in the Jackson household, John Jackson reported the breach to Carolyn Jackson, who retaliated against that biological child by beating the child 30 times with a belt.

As part of the conspiracy, Fishman said, the Jacksons physically assaulted their adopted children with various objects, causing two children to sustain fractured bones (including a fractured spine, fractured skull and fractured upper arms); failed to seek prompt medical attention for their injuries; withheld sufficient nourishment and food from their adopted children; withheld adequate water from two of their children and, at times, prohibited them from drinking water altogether; forced two of the children to consume foods intended to cause them pain and suffering, such as red pepper flakes and hot sauce, and caused one child to ingest excessive sodium or sodium-laden substances while being deprived of water, leading to a life-threatening condition on two separate occasions in two states.

Fishman said the Jacksons also punished one adopted child caught sneaking food and drinking from the toilet by hitting the child, making the child drink hot sauce and forcing the child to eat a raw onion.

The Jacksons no longer have custody of their adoptive or biological children, Fishman said,

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.