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NM Stepfather Sentenced For Abusing 9-Year-Old, Other Crimes

New Mexico stepfather has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for child abuse and other crimes stemming from the case of a 9-year-old boy whose beating death led to calls for reform in the state child welfare system.

Before he was sentenced Tuesday, Stephen Casaus acknowledged mistakes in his life but said "child abuse was not one of them."

He was convicted in September of charges that included child abuse, tampering with evidence and intimidation of a witness in connection with the case of his stepson.

Jurors also ruled Casaus acted with reckless disregard on the day Omaree Varela died in December 2014.

Omaree's mother is charged with child abuse resulting in death.

Court records say a hearing on her competency to stand trial that had been set for Monday will be rescheduled.

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