Couple accused of child abuse demand bench trial

A Maricopa couple accused of child abuse insisted on a bench trial, with the husband citing corruption as the reason.

In a Friday hearing for the case against Corey Masterson, 37, and Veronica Masterson, 38, Judge Jason Holmberg cautioned the two about the decision. Though he clarified with both that they knew what rights they were waiving and they were not under the influence of anyone or anything, Holmberg was skeptical of the decision.

The Mastersons, represented by separate attorneys, are set for trial March 16. They were indicted on felony child-abuse charges Dec. 19, 2018. It was to be an eight-person jury.

“You understand the jury has to be unanimous in the verdict of guilty and it would be eight people the state would have to convince beyond a reasonable doubt?” Holmberg queried them. “All of them would have to agree. If you waive that right and it’s just the judge making that decision in the case, it’s just one person.”

“That’s the whole point of why we’re doing this, sir, because the judge will be accountable for the decision made in there,” Corey Masterson said. “We went above and beyond to inform everybody involved in this case as we have a family court case going on at the same time. I don’t know who I’m supposed to report to when the three corrupt people or the three corrupt individual agencies are all the agencies that I’m supposed to report to.”

When Corey Masterson began to explain details of the family court situation, Veronica Masterson pulled on his arm, and Holmberg told him not to present his case just yet. Both Mastersons reaffirmed their decision to seek a bench trial.

Holmberg, still dubious about their decision to waive rights, ordered them to put the demand in writing. The two remain free on bond.

The Maricopa Police Department’s probable-cause report cited interviews with the children, who described physical abuse, neglect and withholding of food and water. Three children were removed from the home.

The couple lost an infant child in 2013, and Veronica Masterson’s four oldest children perished in a fire in 2017 in Illinois.