Susan Schacherer, grandmother of a girl who was Sudweeks' boarding school for about a year, is convinced her granddaughter was repeatedly abused and humiliated.

Schacherer said the plea bargain is a slap on the wrist that sends the message that Cheryl Sudweeks can rough up minors and face no consequences. "For all intents and purposes, she got away with it," Schacherer said.

Sudweeks' lawyer, James Merrell, thinks otherwise: "Cheryl Sudweeks has had her life destroyed by the actions of some gullible people who work for the government who believe the words of kids that have a long history of lying and manipulating."

While the criminal case has been resolved, the families of four young people have filed a civil lawsuit against the Sudweekses seeking financial compensation.

---

E-mail: lindat@desnews.com