Tracy Ferriter, the Jupiter mother accused of confining her adopted teenage son in a box-like structure for hours, has entered a guilty plea, avoiding a trial and potential prison time. Ferriter, 48, pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment, and child neglect during a hearing at the Palm Beach County Courthouse on Monday.

The charges against Ferriter date back to December 2021 and involve the confinement of her adopted teenage son in an 8x8-foot room in the family’s garage. The room had a lock that could only be opened from the outside, and the child was provided a bucket to use as a toilet. Jupiter police began investigating when the child was reported as a runaway in January 2022.

Circuit Judge Howard Coates sentenced Ferriter to ten years of probation for the child abuse charge and ordered concurrent five-year probation sentences for the other charges. As part of her probation, Ferriter must undergo a mental health evaluation, complete 300 hours of community service, and attend anger management classes within 90 days of her house arrest. She is also required to submit a DNA sample by oral swab as part of her plea.

During the hearing, Ferriter, accompanied by her attorneys Marc Shiner and Heidi Perlet, answered questions from Judge Coates regarding her acceptance of the plea but did not further address the court. The plea deal concludes a case that garnered international attention when Ferriter and her husband, Timothy, were arrested in February 2022.

Tracy Ferriter faced the same charges as her husband, who was found guilty by a jury on October 12, 2023. Timothy Ferriter was sentenced to five years in state prison, followed by five years of probation. At his sentencing, he expressed remorse for his actions and pleaded for mercy from the court. "Everything I did was out of love," he told the court.

The abuse occurred at the Ferriters' home in Jupiter's Egret Landing neighborhood. The teenage child testified that the abusive actions lasted for about six weeks following the family’s move to Jupiter from Arizona in late December 2021. The child, who has not been identified by The Palm Beach Post, has a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reactive attachment disorder, which Tracy Ferriter mentioned to investigators before her arrest.

Reactive attachment disorder can prevent children from forming healthy bonds with their family members, leading to behavioral issues. An older sibling, also adopted, testified that the teenage son received harsher punishments than other children in the home.

During Timothy Ferriter's trial, the teen spoke, requesting leniency for his father. "My father was a good person who just made a really serious mistake," the teen said. "He was not a bad parent."

The plea deal allows Tracy Ferriter to avoid prison but imposes strict probation terms. She is prohibited from contacting the child at the center of the abuse allegations and may petition to transfer her probation to Cook County, Illinois, indicating a possible move away from South Florida.

This case has drawn widespread media attention, with Court TV dedicating segments to the Ferriters' actions and subsequent trials. The plea deal brings a quiet end to a story that has captivated audiences far beyond South Florida.

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