A pediatrician in Delaware was sentenced to three years in prison for waterboarding his 11-year-old stepdaughter, USA TODAY reported.
Melvin L. Morse, 60, was ordered a prison stint of five years by Superior Court Judge Richard F. Stokes on Friday, but has the possibility to serve probation after three years.
The judge denied a motion by Morse's attorney requesting the trial be delayed due to Morse's prostate cancer treatment.
In August 2012, Morse was arrested after his then-11-year-old stepdaughter ran away and told police he forced her head under running water, believing she would drown.
In January, he pleaded not guilty and testied in his defense, arguing he was washing the girl's hair. However, a jury found him guilty of six charges, including first-degree reckless endangerment.
On February 13, the jury deliberated for six hours before handing down their guilty verdict.
Last year, the girl's mother, Pauline Morse, 41, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment charges and testified against Melvin Morse.
She and her daughter, who is now 12, testified that Melvin Morse used waterboarding as a threat and a form of punishment. In their testimony, they described Dr. Morse as a strict father who ordered harsh punishment to Pauline Morse's biological daughter at random while favoring their second child, who is biologically Melvin Morse's.
Prosecutors also argued Melvin Morse forced the girl to stand with her arms outstretched for hours at a time and confined her to her room without food, USA TODAY said.
Morse's medical license was suspended immediately following his arrest. He has written several books on paranormal science and near-death experiences involving children, leading to appearances on "Larry King Live" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." His research was also shown in "Unsolved Mysteries" and a "Rolling Stone" article.
