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Sarah Ferguson,
33, is accused of participating in a group attack on her
17-year-old brother, Christopher Leonard, during a counseling
session last week at the Word of Life Church in Chadwicks, New
York, about 50 miles east of Syracuse.
Leonard, who was recently released from a hospital where he was
treated for blunt force injuries throughout his body, is
expected to testify against Ferguson in New Hartford Town Court
on Wednesday.
Ferguson is charged with assault in the second degree, along
with three fellow parishioners, and is being held at Oneida
County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
The beatings of Christopher and his 19-year-old brother, Lucas,
began late on Oct. 11 in the church's "sanctuary room" and
lasted more than 10 hours, police said.
Police have said the counseling session was intended to force
the teenagers to confess to their sins and apologize. The attack
also might have been prompted by rumors the brothers intended to
leave the church, police said.
Lucas Leonard died from injuries inflicted during the beatings,
in which an electrical extension cord was used, police said. His
parents, Bruce Leonard, 65, and Deborah Leonard, 59, have been
charged with first-degree manslaughter in his death. They are
being held at Oneida County Correctional Facility in lieu of
$100,000 bail.
Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said last week
that he was seeking a grand jury indictment of the Leonards.
Parishioners Joseph Irwin, 26, Linda Morey, 54, and David Morey,
26, are also charged with second-degree assault in connection
with Christopher Leonard's beating. They have been released
after posting $50,000 bonds and are scheduled to appear in court
on Dec. 15.
(Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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