Sunriver woman found guilty of 9 charges in child abuse trial

Published 2:11 pm Thursday, March 5, 2026

Sarah Session of Sunriver was found guilty of nine counts of abusing her own stepson on Thursday in Deschutes County Circuit Court.

The three-week child abuse trial came to an end with the verdict. It was not a jury trial, and the verdict was given solely by Judge Allison Emerson. Session faced accusations of forcing her nine-year-old stepson to eat his own vomit and live in a bare, tarp-covered bedroom. Her parents Paula and Gary Hardenburg faced accusations of helping take the tarps out of the room and tampering with evidence.

A more serious charge against Session of attempted murder was dismissed before the trial began.

A packed courtroom of around 40 people watched as Judge Emerson found Session, 34, guilty of nine counts of criminal mistreatment, assault and coercion. She was found not guilty of six criminal mistreatment charges and assault charges.

Session faces up to 55 years in prison if the judge imposes the maximum sentence for each charge.

Session’s parents, Paula and Gary Hardenburg, were found guilty on all charges, including tampering with physical evidence and criminal mistreatment. Paula Hardenburg was also found guilty of assault.

Emerson specifically noted that Paula Hardenburg was a second caregiver for the child, was at the house daily and at the hospital with the child. Paula Hardenburg faces up to 23 years in prison if the judge imposes the maximum sentences for her charges, while Gary Hardenburg faces up to 7 years in prison.

Paula Hardenburg and Session were remanded to Deschutes County Jail. They were not given a moment to say goodbye before being led away by deputies. Paula Hardenburg gave her purse to her husband as she was led away.

Some videos played in court and taken from Session’s phone show the child alone in a tarp-covered but otherwise bare bedroom, with only a small mattress and a bowl for vomit. Prosecutors claim the child was locked in the room and food and water were controlled. The victim had to ask for water, the child said in an interview. In one of the videos, Session can be heard telling the child: “Your body is utterly failing you now,” as he struggles to drink water. At one point, the child was tied to the mattress by a jump rope. Brenneman said Session told the child to eat his vomit.

A sentencing will take place April 3.