Yukon Woman Accused In Child Abuse Takes Stand

A woman accused of abusing her adopted child took the stand in her own defense on Friday.

6/12/2012 Related Story: Trial Begins For Child Abuse Case Against Yukon Couple

On the stand this Friday, Sonja kluth systematically addressed the allegations of abuse and neglect made against her this week.

Sonja Kluth sometimes teared up as she talked about challenges she faced with the severe behavioral problems with the children. She said they all suffered from reactive attachment.

The oldest was the worst. She said he had was aggressive toward other kids, displayed sexual behavior even when he was young, and would purposely urinate and defecate all over the house.

She said she would put the two boys in the storm cellar because they were urinating all over the house. And nothing else they tried would get them to stop. She said she didn't think this was an unsafe thing.

And she and John Kluth Would check on them and tell them if they wanted to stop urinating, they could come up, and they said they wanted to stay.

She says there was never a dog crate down there.

Sonja says she didn't originally know the boys were eating dog food. He was doing it on their own. She said the oldest was eating trash, but she couldn't get him to stop. She said she would buy him boxes of twinkies so he would stop. But he wouldn't because she said he wanted to prove to them that he was stronger.

Sonya said she did not rip out the girl's earring, and she didn't knock out her tooth with a phone, she accidentally hit her with her hand, and Sonya Kluth showed jurors a scar on her hand.

Testimony will continue on Monday morning.