YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt convicted in child abuse case

YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke, who pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse of two of her children, was sentenced Tuesday to four consecutive terms ranging from one to 15 years in prison.

How much time Franke spends in prison will depend on the Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Franke and his former business partner, Connexions Classroom founder Jodi Hildebrandt, both pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse in 5th District Court in Washington County, Utah, in December .

Hildebrandt was sentenced to the same four consecutive sentences of one to 15 years after Franke.

In their plea agreements, Franke and Hildebrandt admitted to inflicting or permitting another adult to inflict serious physical harm on Franke's children between May and August 2023.

Before receiving his sentence, Franke tearfully read a statement in court Tuesday.

“Over the past four years, I chose to follow advice and guidance that led me into a dark delusion. My distorted version of reality remained largely unchecked as I isolated myself from anyone who challenged me,” Franke said.

“I was led to believe that this world was an evil place filled with cops who control, hospitals who hurt, government agencies who brainwash, religious leaders who lie and lust, husbands who refuse to protect and children who need to be abused,” Franke said.

“Jodi Hildebrandt was never my business partner and I was never employed by her. I never received any salary or connections from her. Jodi was employed as my son's advisor in 2019 and in 2020, I paid her to be my mentor,” Franke says. “It is important to me to demonstrate my remorse and regret without blame. I take full responsibility for my choices and would rather serve a prison sentence.”

MORE: YouTube Mom Ruby Franke Pleads Guilty in Child Abuse Case

The two women were arrested Aug. 30 after Franke's 12-year-old son, who was staying with Hildebrandt, climbed out a window, ran to a neighbor's house and told him he had been abused.

Hildebrandt said in a court statement: “I sincerely love these children. I want them to heal emotionally. One of the reasons I didn't go to trial is because I didn't want them to relive emotionally. experiences that would have been harmful to them.

Franke's son was physically tortured and “forced to perform physical tasks for hours and days at a time,” according to the plea agreement. He was forced to perform outdoor work without shoes in the summer heat, remaining exposed to direct sunlight for several days, resulting in “severe and repeated sunburns with blistering and peeling of the skin.” skin,” the agreement states.

The child was denied enough water for several days when he had to stay in the heat and was punished when he “secretly consumed water” and was denied enough food, according to the 'agreement.

After he attempted to flee, his hands and feet were “regularly bound,” often using two sets of handcuffs for his wrists and ankles, the plea agreement states, adding that sometimes ropes were used to tie put the two sets of handcuffs together so his arms and legs were lifted off the ground.

MORE: Controversial YouTuber Ruby Franke Officially Charged With Child Abuse

The restraints led to injuries to the child's wrists and ankles, with the handcuffs cutting skin and damaging muscle and tissue, according to the plea agreement. The injuries were treated with homeopathic remedies and covered with duct tape, before the child was re-attached to the duct tape, as per the agreement.

Franke and another adult tried to convince the boy that he was “evil and possessed. And that he must willingly obey to avoid punishment. And that punishment was necessary to repent,” the plea states.

Another child suffered similar treatment and was forced to work outside, barefoot, in the heat, running on dirt roads for an extended period of time.

Two other charges were dismissed against Franke, according to the Washington County District Attorney's Office. She agreed to serve consecutive sentences as part of her plea deal.

“Ruby Franke wants to take responsibility for the harm she has caused her children and her entire family. She knows that by pleading guilty and accepting the punishment, she is taking a step in the right direction towards accountability for her actions.” , Franke's lawyers said in a statement to ABC News in December.

MORE: Ruby Franke's husband files for divorce as she faces child abuse charges

Prosecutor Eric Clarke told reporters after the sentencing that he hoped Hildebrandt would serve a longer sentence than Franke. Clarke said it appears Franke understands she was wrong in her abuse and has taken responsibility for it, but Hildebrandt has made statements in calls from prison suggesting she had no remorse.

“Ultimately this is a case about religious extremism and I think Ms. Franke's statement speaks to that. These guys fell down a rabbit hole and Ms. Hildebrandt thought she was speaking regularly to God and to Ms. Hildebrandt,” prosecutor Eric Clarke told reporters.

Clarke said the case is one of the worst cases of child abuse his office has ever seen.

“I am very concerned that Jodi — if released today — poses a significant risk to gathering followers,” Clarke said. “Ruby was basically a follower of Jodi, and if she brings people together and then convinces them to do this kind of thing, that’s a huge risk.”

Hildebrandt's lawyer said the statement she made in court was “absolutely sincere” and that what she said in calls with people who did not believe she was guilty of child abuse did not It wasn't what she thought it was now.

“She entered into a plea agreement to take responsibility for her conduct in this matter,” Hildebrandt’s attorney, Doug Terry, told reporters.

Franke's attorney, LaMar Winward, told reporters she accepted the judge's sentence.

“We believe justice has been served today and Ruby is committed to changing the way she thinks and acts during her time in prison,” Franke said.

YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt convicted in child abuse case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com