MACY - United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Charles Neil Parker, 39, and Krista Parker, 36, were sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for multiple counts of intentional child abuse.

United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Charles Neil Parker and Krista Parker each to 72 months’ imprisonment.

According to a news release, officers responded to a home in Macy in 2018, after receiving a report that a party guest at the home had seen a child locked in the basement.

Officers found the then-nine-year-old victim in a locked utility room in the basement.

Officials say the door to the room was secured with an eye-hook latch and had a contact alarm that sounded when the door was opened.

Officers found that the room had a concrete floor, no windows, and no ventilation.

The release states that the victim had two urine-soaked blankets on the floor to sleep on.

The officers observed two toys, an empty chip bag, and an empty soda bottle. The wall contained stick figure drawings and tally marks. The door had scratch marks dug into it on the inside.

During an interview with authorities, Krista Parker first stated that the victim must have wandered into the room and gotten locked in by mistake, but later admitted to locking the victim in the room because she wanted to “have one night of fun” after a stressful week at work.

During an interview with Charles Neil Parker, he admitted to authorities that they locked the victim in the room sometimes due to his behavior.

Authorities say the victim suffers from cognitive delays and is believed to be on the autism spectrum, reported that he always slept and ate in the room, and was unable to leave to use the bathroom.

The victim was identified as a foster child placed in the Parkers’ care by the Omaha Tribe Children and Family Services.

At the time, Krista Parker was employed with Children and Family Services as a case aid.