FAIRFIELD, California – In a case dating back to 2018, a 34-year-old Fairfield woman is expected to serve four months of supervised release after pleading no contest to 10 charges of child cruelty. Ina Aurelia Rogers appeared at a morning session at the Solano County Superior Court, where she was ordered to return for formal sentencing on January 29th.
Rogers’ attorney, Barry K. Newman, stated that his client essentially had been in “custody” for nearly five years and will serve an additional four months after pleading no contest to the charges. Her plea meant she did not admit guilt but stated she would offer no defense.
The child cruelty case surfaced in March 2018 when one of the couple’s sons, who had the mental capacity of an 8-year-old, disappeared from their home. A search of the residence revealed squalid living conditions and nine more children ranging in age from 4 months to 11 years old. The missing boy was found asleep under a nearby bush.
Rogers had been released on her own recognizance after Newman’s motion for her release was granted. Her husband, Jonathan Allen, also 34, pleaded no contest to 14 felony counts in the case and was sentenced to 36 years 8 months and parole supervision for 10 years.
The prosecution, led by Deputy District Attorney William P. Moser, presented horrific allegations of child torture, including physical abuse, malnutrition, and the use of duct tape and waterboarding, among other things. Rogers potentially faced up to six years in state prison and up to a $10,000 fine for a single felony charge alone before pleading no contest in 2019.
The sentencing for Rogers has been scheduled and rescheduled multiple times over the years, and her Jan. 29th sentencing will mark the conclusion of the long legal process. The case has garnered national attention, shedding light on the severity of child abuse and its lasting impact on victims.