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Ferguson attempts suicide after being found guilty on all 32 counts

James and Vonda Ferguson appear in a Union County courtroom in Maryville, Ohio Tuesday morning, Aug. 15, 2006. James Ferguson was convicted of child abuse charges and was sentenced to 65 years in prison. Jury selection began in the trial of Vonda Ferguson began Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.

Staff photo by Marshall Gorby James and Vonda Ferguson appear in a Union County courtroom in Maryville, Ohio Tuesday morning, Aug. 15, 2006. James Ferguson was convicted of child abuse charges and was sentenced to 65 years in prison. Jury selection began in the trial of Vonda Ferguson began Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.

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By Bridgette Outten and Samantha Sommer, Staff Writers Updated 10:05 AM Saturday, November 21, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Vonda Ferguson tried to kill herself after she was convicted on 32 counts Friday, Nov. 20, deputies said.

Paramedics took her from the Clark County Common Pleas Court on a gurney with powder on her face, then by squad to Springfield Regional Medical Center, High Street campus.

She was found guilty of all 32 counts she faced, including felonious assault, child endangering, permitting child abuse and rape.

Her sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 7. Union County Prosecutor David Phillips wasn’t certain of the total years in prison she faced, but said he would ask for at least as much time as her husband, who was convicted last year and received 65 years in prison.

Ferguson shook her head repeatedly as each guilty verdict was read. She was then handcuffed and led downstairs to a holding cell, where deputies noticed she had something in her mouth, said Sgt. Phil Sanders of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies immediately swept a blue powder out of her mouth, which she told deputies were sleeping pills, and called a squad, Sanders said.

Ferguson told deputies she had the pills in her mouth in the courtroom and attempted to kill herself because she wasn’t guilty of the charges. She never lost consciousness, Sanders said.

“I advised her, ‘Why didn’t you file an appeal? ... Killing yourself is not a good appeal,’ ” Sanders said.

She was convicted of using extreme forms of punishment on her five adopted children — now ages 14 through 19 — between 2000 and 2004, allegedly hitting them with hammers and belts until they bled. She also forced them to eat excrement and burned them with irons, prosecutors said during the three-week trial.

Phillips said he was pleased with the verdict.

“The children have waited a long time for justice,” he said.

Her lawyer left the courtroom without speaking to reporters. During closing arguments defense attorney Jim Marshall questioned the children’s credibility, calling them “troubled” and “disturbed” and saying they conspired against their adoptive mother.

“We’ve heard so many stories, they can’t all possibly be true,” he said.

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