An Emmett woman who was accused of torturing and abusing two foster children has entered a plea deal.
Sarah Hager, 39, was arrested in March after an investigation alleged she had abused the two children over several years.
The investigation began in July 2025 when the children were interviewed at the Blue Water Child Advocacy Center. The children described incidents of abuse, including one in which Hager’s foster son said she forced his face into urine as punishment for wetting the bed. He was reportedly 9 years old at the time.
The other victim, a girl, told the advocacy center she was forced to take cold baths and could only dry off in front of a fan.
In other incidents the children said Hager isolated them from other people and locked them in dog cages.
Before the plea deal was reached, the St. Clair County Prosecutor’s office filed a motion to introduce evidence from several calls between 2017 and 2021 that led to Child Protective Services investigating Hager, though nothing came of that investigation. The filing described an incident in which Hager reportedly punched the girl multiple times in the face and stomach. Hager denied the abuse, though the younger foster son corroborated the girl’s story to police.
As part of the plea agreement, which was accepted by both parties on Monday May 18, Hager admitted to two counts of second-degree child abuse and one count of second-degree child abuse committed in the presence of a minor. A count of torture was also reduced to attempted torture. Two counts of first-degree child abuse were dropped as part of the plea deal.
Second-degree child abuse and second-degree child abuse committed in the presence of a minor are punishable with up to 10 years in prison each. Attempted torture is punishable with up to five years in prison.
Hager is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:50 p.m. June 22 by Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Lane.
The Blue Water Area Child Advocacy Center advises those who suspect or know of child abuse to report to Michigan Children’s Protective Services by calling 1-855-444-3911.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Emmett woman admits to foster child abuse in plea deal
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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