Parents accused of waterboarding daughter could still have contact with her

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. — Two Beaver County parents accused of punishing their 12-year-old daughter by waterboarding her could still be allowed to have contact with her.

They told police they learned how to do it from a movie.

Dion Stevens and Malisa Stevens are hoping to avoid a trial and are ready to enter a plea, resolve this and see their child again.

According to police, the couple confessed to waterboarding their 12-year-old daughter, a technique used on terrorists, as punishment last October.

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Channel 11 has learned they have a deal with the district attorney's office and a plea is in the works.

"We have entered into a tentative plea agreement, it is my hope that the agreement will be upheld," said Lee Rothman, a defense attorney in the case.

Both sides say waiving the case to court Monday morning was just a technicality.

The parents want to take the offer, which would include continued supervised visits with their daughter.

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"It is an agreement that is geared toward family reunification," Rothman said.

"Mr. Dion Stevens' goal was to reunify with his daughter," said Brandon Eberle, Dion Stevens' defense attorney. "I believe that his daughter has expressed the same token here today."

According to the tentative plan, the parents will plead to felony child endangerment with 5 to 7 years probation.

Channel 11 has learned the parents and the child want to be back together.

Cox Media Group