Former DHS worker sentenced for allowing child abuse

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A two-year prison sentence has been handed down to a former Department of Human Services worker convicted of permitting child abuse. <br/><br/>Fifty-three-year-old Janice Cooke was

Saturday, July 8th 2006, 11:25 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A two-year prison sentence has been handed down to a former Department of Human Services worker convicted of permitting child abuse.

Fifty-three-year-old Janice Cooke was accused of failing to report her husband's abuse of a 12-year-old child, even though the victim told her about it.

An Oklahoma County jury deliberated about five hours before finding Cooke guilty of the felony last month. The panel recommended a 30-month prison sentence and a five-thousand dollar fine.

Cooke's attorney says she'll appeal.

Cooke's husband, Paul, was sentenced in September to 12 years in prison for rape, forcible oral sodomy and lewd acts with a child.