A Trumbull County couple both learned their sentences for abusing a teenager they were supposed to be caring for.

According to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office, Dennis and Erica Williams of Kinsman Township were convicted of endangering their adopted teenage daughter.  

Erica will spend 180 days behind bars, complete 100 hours of community service, and have three years probation after pleading guilty to a single felony count of attempted endangering children.

Dennis Williams pled guilty to misdemeanor-child-endangering and was sentenced to two years of probation.

A prosecutor says Dennis received a lesser sentence because he was "less culpable than Erica was." 

The charges stem from an incident in November of 2022 when police said the couple disciplined their daughter by pushing her head under the water in a bathtub.

Prosecutors described their actions as "over-the-top" discipline of the 16-year-old girl. 

21 News spoke with the teenage victim who believed their punishment was too lenient. 

"I endured years of abuse...and I think two years of probation is not enough for that." the teen said. 

While under the care of Erica and Dennis, the teenager said the abuse was constant, often depriving her of her sleep, zip tying her hands to bed posts and forcing her to sleep on the floor.

Almost two years later, she says her mental health is getting better and she hardly has nightmares now. She has since been under the care of new parents.