Ruby Franke, a once-popular online mom influencer with millions of followers, has been sentenced to four one- to 15-year terms in prison for child abuse.
Franke pleaded guilty in December to four counts of aggravated abuse against her children. She and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, had each been charged with six counts of felony child abuse in September.
Utah Judge John J. Walton sentenced both to four one- to 15-year terms on Tuesday, but state law limits the maximum aggregate sentence for consecutive terms to 30 years. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will determine the length of time they will spend behind bars, NBC News reported.
For years, the 42-year-old mother documented her strict parenting style with her husband Kevin Franke and her six children on her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers.” She and Hildebrandt also doled out parenting advice in videos.
I’m going to go hug my son…so terrible
Sometimes I get frustrated and lose patience with my youngest, especially in the evening when he’s going wild and I’m tired. Occasionally I’ll get short or snippy with him, and it’s a guarantee that night I’m gonna lay in bed feeling guilty and regretting it. Then i get up and go give him kisses while he sleeps, and the next morning I give him extra warm hugs and spoil him a little more that day. I never want him to doubt how much I love him, I can’t comprehend people like this woman.