BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire woman has been convicted of abusing twin toddlers two years ago, leaving one of them blind in one eye.
Jami Castine, 29, of Epping, was found guilty Friday of first-degree assault and second-degree assault charges after a two-week trial.
Castine had volunteered to watch a friend’s 18-month-old twin boys between March 31 and April 8, 2016, prosecutors said. During that time, one of the boys was found unresponsive at Castine’s home.
The child was left with brain damage and permanent blindness in his left eye, prosecutor said. His brother had bruises that an expert said was consistent with abuse. Witnesses testified they observed her call the children vulgar names, prosecutors said.
“This defendant was entrusted by a friend to care for her children, and she violated that trust by inflicting lifelong injuries upon a baby,” Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway said. “One of the victims has been forced to live the rest of his life without sight in his left eye.”
Castine’s lawyers said she did not cause the abuse and said there’s no evidence proving who did.
She faces 30 to 90 years in prison when she is sentenced June 8.
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