Ohio couple going to prison for son's hog-tying

[September 22, 2010]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- A Cleveland mother has been sentenced to 34 years in prison and the father got 26 years for abuses that included hog-tying their son to a table nightly for months.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula (suh-TOO'-lah) sentenced 37-year-old Andreia Huffman and 32-year-old Jason Dunikowski on their guilty pleas to a 196-count indictment including kidnapping and child endangering. The mother also pleaded guilty to felonious assault.

Authorities say the couple also forced the 8-year-old to stand facing a wall daily for six months and smacked his head until his nose broke. His 15-year-old brother called police in April.

Defense attorney Chris Roberson says Huffman was hoping for a lower sentence recommended by the prosecution. A message seeking comment was left for Dunikowski's attorney.

[Associated Press]

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