NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — A Pittsfield woman pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly endangering a child by not contacting authorities after learning her ex-husband had abused a child.
Mackenzie Tarjick pleaded guilty in Hampshire Superior Court Monday to the charges, according to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office. Tarjick will be sentenced on Monday, Aug. 20.
Tajick's ex-husband, Aaron Tarjick, was previously found guilty of 17 counts of sexual acts toward two separate young girls — 13 of those counts involved incidents in Dalton and Becket. Mackenzie Tarjick admitted in court that she knew of one victim since 2009 but did nothing to stop it and that she hid a DVD of him abusing a child before police searched their home.
Aaron Tarjick was arrested on August 18, 2010 after the biological father of one of the victims reported that his 13-year-old daughter was abused in Middlefield. A state police investigation later reveal that he committed similar acts on the same victim and another in Dalton and Becket. He pleaded guilty in June to the 17 counts and sentenced to 19 to 25 years in state prison.
"The serial sexual abuse of an innocent child was horrific," Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan said in a statement. "Holding Mackenzie Tarjick accountable for allowing repeated sexual abuse to a young girl was paramount in seeking justice."
The case was jointly prosecuted by Sullivan, Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless, and assistant Northwestern District Attorney Rachael Eramo.
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