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Mark Seamands Acquitted of Assault for Branding His Children Like Cattle

By Pete Kotz in Child Abuse, assault, bizarre
Monday, May 17, 2010 at 11:24 am
Mark-Seamands_opt.jpg
​Mark J. Seamands was about to get a divorce. So in 2008, he came up with a novel idea of reminding his kids they'd always be a family. They'd all get 3-by-3 inch brands with the letters "SK," standing for Seamands Kids...
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All three kids received brands that stood for "Seamands Kids"
​All agreed this would be a swell idea. His 13-year-old son got the brand on his chest. A 15-year-old son got the brand on his arm. And an 18-year-old daughter got her brand on her calf. Dad got one as well.

But his soon-to-be ex-wife didn't think this was such a swell idea when she discovered the new insignias. She called the cops.

Seamands, a construction worker from Sequims, Washington, was charged with two counts of felony assault, since the younger kids weren't old enough to legally offer consent.

When the case finally went to trial last week, Seamands claimed he got the idea from branding animals as a kid on the farm. But it caused the children second-degree burns, according to a doctor who testified for the prosecution.

The jury wasn't so quick to interfere with the family's wishes, however. Seamands was acquitted on the felony charges, and the jury deadlocked on some lesser assault charges. (Special thanks to reader Patty for the tip.)

See our last story about child abuse: Kindergarten Teacher Acquitted of Molestation Charges.

Tags: Washington

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