TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Jupiter father who locked his adopted son in a box was sentenced Thursday afternoon to five years in prison. according to NBC affiliate WPTV.
Tim Ferriter, 48, was found guilty a month ago of aggravated child abuse, child neglect, and false imprisonment.
Five years was “more than the defense requested” but less than the maximum possible sentence of 40 years,” WPTV said.
WPTV also reported the father of four went back to court for his sentence hearing where he was given the opportunity to openly speak to his family, apologizing for what he put his children through, and said that God had a plan for him.
“I also plead of you, Judge Coates, to use your discretion to lean into mercy for my family and myself to make your decision,” Ferriter said. “I ask that you allow me to serve my sentence outside the jail or prison, under house arrest or a monitor under probation so as to be able to support the ones I love and the ones that depend on me.”
The father no longer has parental rights and the children are in other care.
Ferriter could face up to 40 years for abusing their then-14-year-old son by locking him in an 8×8 box in the family garage. The box was equipped with a “ring” style camera to “monitor” him.
Tim Ferriter and his wife, Tracy Ferriter, were arrested in February 2022.
WPTV said before the trial started, Ferriter rejected a plea deal that would have imprisoned him for two years.
Tracy Ferriter is still awaiting her trial.