Woman admits to not reporting child abuse

Posted: 08/14/12 at 7:25 am EDT

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) -- A western Massachusetts woman has pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges, admitting in court that she did not contact authorities even though she knew her husband was sexually assaulting a young girl.

Mackenzie Tarjick entered her plea in Hampshire Superior Court on Monday but sentencing was delayed until next Monday.

Authorities say the 34-year-old Middlefield woman learned in 2009 that her husband, Aaron Tarjick, had abused the girl over a four-year span in Becket, Dalton and Middlefield starting when she was 9 years old. The Tarjicks are no longer married.

Prosecutors called the abuse "horrific."

Aaron Tarjick was found guilty in June of a total of 17 charges, including aggravated rape, and sentenced to 19 to 25 years in prison.

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