How Could You? Hall of Shame-Kendall Louise Jackson
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Kalamazoo, Michigan, a “former caregiver of a child with disabilities was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison for her conviction of assault and endangering children.
Kendall Louise Jackson, 22, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and formerly of Bowling Green assaulted a 14-year-old developmentally-disabled boy under her care at a group home on Feb. 4.
In November, Jackson changed her plea from not guilty to guilty on 11 counts against her.
Following a pre-sentence investigation, Jackson appeared on Monday before Judge Molly Mack in Wood County Common Pleas Court for her sentencing. The various counts in two separate cases were merged for the sentencing.
Jackson had a history of mental health issues and medication use and no prior criminal history, said her attorney, Steven Spitler.
“She really liked the patient and just blacked out that day. 
She had no malice toward him,” Spitler said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Pamela Gross, an assistant prosecutor with the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office, said that the state previously authorized dismissing one count of felonious assault and proceeding on the other counts with various mergers applying.
For the one assault Jackson was ordered to 11 months in prison. For the other assault charges, Mack ordered her to 12 months in prison on each case. For the endangering children charges, Jackson was sentenced to serve three years in prison. That order, along with the assault charges, are to be served consecutively for the total of four years and 11 months.
Jackson was also ordered to serve three years of post release control sanctions and has voluntarily agreed to be added to the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities registry as an offender.
According to the prosecution, on the night of the assault, Jackson had unplugged the security television monitor and was unaware the battery operation would continue to keep the camera operational.
The victim’s mother Deanne Kleinhans said that Jackson deliberately tried to hide the abuse by unplugging the camera.
“She hurt him (her son, the victim) repeatedly for over two hours. When I saw him he was purple. All I could do is hug him and cry. She said that he fell in the shower.”
Kleinhans said she was cautioned not to watch the video of the assaults.
“As a mother I had to watch. I was not prepared by what I saw and heard,” she said.
Jackson apologized.
“I don’t know what happened. I’m sorry. While I’m in prison, I want to stay on my medication and get better,” she said.
Before handing down her sentence, Mack said she had reviewed the video, the victim impact statement and the pre-sentence investigation.
“It is very exasperating on the court. You preyed upon a significantly person with mental issues. Prison is appropriate for you,” Mack told Jackson.
Jackson was given credit for 21 days served in the Wood County Justice Center. She was immediately taken into custody and returned to that facility pending her transfer to prison.
Jackson was injured in a crash just after the sentencing on Monday. ”
“Kendall Jackson, who had just been sentenced to prison during a Wood County Common Pleas Court hearing, was a passenger seated behind the driver of the van. She taken to Wood County Hospital by BG EMS with possible injury.”
Caregiver, who abused 14-year-old in group home, going to prison
[Sentinel-Tribune 1/6/2020 by Bill Ryan]
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