Carnation man accused of starving daughter pleads guilty

A Carnation man accused of starving his then-14-year-old daughter last year pleaded guilty this morning to first-degree criminal mistreatment.

Prosecutors accused Jon Pomeroy, 43, and his wife, Rebecca Long, 45, of isolating and starving the girl, who was 4-feet-7 and weighed just 48 pounds when authorities found her in August. She suffered dehydration so severe that all of her teeth were rotting, court documents state.

A veteran King County sheriff's detective assigned to the case said it was the worst case of abuse he had ever seen.

Prosecutors will be asking for a high-end sentence of more that three years in prison when Pomeroy is sentenced on Sept. 18.

Long, who is also charged with criminal mistreatment, has pleaded not guilty and is set to stand trial.

King County sheriff's deputies discovered the malnourished girl on Aug. 13, 2008, after they were called to the home to check on the girl on the request of Child Protective Services (CPS).

Court documents say Long systematically deprived her stepdaughter of sustenance. Investigators say the girl told them that Long permitted her half a Dixie cup of water a day and supervised the girl's showers and toothbrushing so she could not sneak a drink.

Once the girl said she was caught drinking from the toilet, because her thirst was so bad.

The girl told a detective that her father was "aware of the water restrictions but chooses not to interfere," according to court documents.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Zachary Wagnild said that the girl, now 15, has gained weight but probably won't grow much taller because of the abuse she suffered.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com