WARNING: Details in this story may be disturbing for some readers.
The Union County man charged with chaining his foster son to the porch of his home and leaving him there with a dead chicken tied around his neck pleaded guilty to child abuse Wednesday morning.
Dorian Harper took a plea deal he rejected Monday and was sentenced to six to 10 years in prison.
WARNING DISTURBING IMAGES: Photos released in Union Co. child abuse case
Harper pleaded guilty to maiming without intent, three counts of intentional child abuse and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Harper spoke briefly to the judge before being sentenced and claimed he’s sorry for what happened. His attorney, Randolph Lee, said “Mr. Harper has expressed to me … that he has a great deal of love for all of the children. He’s very remorseful and regretful.”
Lee said he believes Harper “snapped” under the stress of home schooling four adopted children and a foster child. He said Harper never explained specifically why he abused the boy. Harper told the judge he places part of the blame on his former live-in girlfriend, Wanda Sue Larson. Lee said Harper is willing to testify when charges against her are brought to trial.
Larson is a former Union County Department of Social Services supervisor.
Harper also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor child abuse charge.
Prosecutors said the 11-year-old boy was cut with a knife on his face by Harper. Harper and Larson served as the boy's guardians, and there were other children at the home that day.
According to the charges, Harper burned the boy's face under his eyes with live electrical wires and mangled his fingers by twisting them with pliers.
The 11-year-old boy was tied up or chained most of the time and forced to sleep on the floor, handcuffed to a railroad tie.
Harper said in court he is remorseful and still loves the children.
Union County deputies were called to the home in November 2013 after neighbors complained about the couple's wild animals running loose and damaging their property. When one deputy approached the property, he found the 11-year-old boy chained to the couple's front porch, wearing only his underwear, with a dead chicken tied around his neck.
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