SoCal couple can be retried in `tough love' abuse case, judge rules

Friday January 31, 2003

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) A sheriff's sergeant and an elementary school principal can be retried in the alleged tough love abuse of their son, a judge ruled Friday.

Attorneys for Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Grady Machnick and his wife, Deborah, had opposed a prosecution decision to retry the couple on a misdemeanor charge of child abuse.

But Superior Court Judge Everette Dickey ruled prosecutors could move forward.

The Yorba Linda couple were acquitted last month of a felony count of conspiracy to commit child abuse, but jurors split on the misdemeanor.

The Machnicks, both 46, were accused of abusing their son between 1997 and 2001. Grady Machnick had worked at a Los Angeles County jail. His wife had worked in the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

The 16-year-old, who now lives in a foster home, testified his lunch money was withheld, he was forced to sleep outside, and was awakened with dousings of cold water, among other allegations.

The couple said they used tough love in an effort to prevent their son from stealing and lying.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)