Carnation man pleads guilty of mistreating daughter, who was deprived of food, water

A Carnation-area man accused of failing to intervene while his wife systematically starved his daughter and limited the girl to a few drops of water a day pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree criminal mistreatment.

Jon Pomeroy, 43, wrote in plea paperwork that he knew his wife, Rebecca Long, was disciplining the girl, who is now 15, by depriving her of food and water, but he opted not to intervene.

"I was aware that my wife was frustrated by my daughter during this period," Pomeroy wrote.

King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Zachary Wagnild said he will ask for a high-end sentence of more than three years in prison when Pomeroy is sentenced Sept. 18. Under the sentencing guidelines, Pomeroy faces from 2-½ to more than three years behind bars.

Long, 45, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree criminal mistreatment of her stepdaughter. She is scheduled to appear in court today for a hearing to determine whether her case will go to trial or be resolved with a plea, Wagnild said.

Police and prosecutors say that Pomeroy and Long isolated and starved the girl, who was 4 feet 7 and weighed just 48 pounds when authorities found her in August 2008 after they were called to the home to check on the girl at the request of Child Protective Services. The teen suffered dehydration so severe that all of her teeth were rotting, court documents state.

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

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 tooth-brushing so she could not sneak a drink.

The girl said she once 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.

Wagnild said that the girl has gained weight but probably won't grow much taller because of the abuse she suffered.

The girl appeared in court Monday with her foster parents. The dark- haired girl remained quiet throughout the hearing and quickly left after her father pleaded guilty.

As part of the plea agreement, Pomeroy cannot contact the girl and her brother, who is also in foster care. The boy and two family dogs appeared in good health when deputies found them, according to court papers.

Information from Seattle Times news researcher Miyoko Wolf and Times archives is included in this report.

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