SANFORD, Fla., June 16 (UPI) -- A Florida man facing prison for neglecting his adopted son and daughter says meting out corporal punishment was the "Christian" thing to do.
Dwayne Hardy, 50, of Altamonte Springs was convicted late Wednesday and jailed immediately. Sentencing was set for Aug. 1, the Orlando Sentinel reported. He faces at least two years in prison.
Hardy's wife, Pamela, 47, who is awaiting trial, has been charged with aggravated child abuse.
The couple adopted the boy, 10, and girl, 6, in February 2010. By the end of the year, investigators said, the children looked like they had been starved and the Hardys were under arrest.
Assistant State Attorney Stacey Salmons said Hardy was complicit in his wife's physical abuse of the children because he did nothing to stop it. In his testimony, Hardy said the children were punished by being hit with a wooden paddle or a belt but said that was the Christian thing to do.
"I've been a Christian for more than half of my life," he said. "We live by Christian principles."
