WISCASSET – A state Department of Human Services adoption supervisor testified Friday that the woman accused in the death of a 5-year-old in her care knew that foster children are not to be restrained, held or physically disciplined without specific authority.

Sally Ann Schofield, 40, is on trial in the death of Logan Marr. The Chelsea woman – and former DHS caseworker – is accused of wrapping Logan in at least 42 feet of duct tape Jan. 31, 2001, and securing her in a highchair in a storage room in the basement of Schofield’s home. During the “time out” for bad behavior, the child died.

The prosecution alleges that the child died by suffocation, while the defense claims the child died of a pre-existing condition that caused a seizure.

The adoption supervisor, Patricia Beaulieu, and other DHS workers testified Friday they never heard Schofield complain that Logan had medical problems, epilepsy or seizures. Beaulieu said Schofield was told Logan had behavior management problems. The DHS workers also told the court that Schofield never mentioned to them that she placed Logan in the basement facing a concrete wall as discipline or that she restrained the child.

“It is my belief she absolutely knew that was forbidden,” Beaulieu said on the witness stand in Lincoln County Superior Court.

Schofield initially was charged with depraved indifference murder and manslaughter, but Justice Thomas E. Delahanty II threw out the murder charge Thursday. The nonjury trial on the manslaughter charge will continue into next week.

Before Delahanty acquitted Schofield on the murder charge Thursday, she was facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted. A manslaughter conviction would mean up to 20 years in prison, defense attorney Jed Davis of Augusta said Friday.

However, if the judge finds her guilty of aggravated manslaughter, the sentence would be up to 40 years, Davis said.

It is “almost certain that she won’t be testifying,” Davis said of his client. “There’s a small possibility, but it’s unlikely.”

On Monday, a California pathologist, Dr. John T. Cooper, is scheduled to testify on behalf of Schofield. Schofield hired Cooper and his opinion is expected to play a key part in her defense.

The prosecution has two expert witnesses to rebut Cooper’s testimony.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has depicted a power struggle between Schofield and the child. Earlier this week, Logan’s therapist characterized Logan as a “parentified” child, who was bossy and defiant.

During the brief court session Friday, Beaulieu said that she never met Logan or the child’s younger sister, Bailey Marr. Both were in Schofield’s care.

With “what little information I was given about the girls, this family seemed like an appropriate family to adopt,” Beaulieu said.

Several of Schofield’s relatives and a friend took the stand during the morning session Friday.

Sister-in-law Teresa Hardy called the Schofield family “fun, loving, caring” and Schofield, “kind, patient, never [one] to turn kids away.”

“My kids idolized her,” Hardy said.

“I’ve never seen Sally discipline any child,” said close friend Denise Iarrobino. “I’ve never seen her yell or lose control, other than laughter.”

Two relatives who testified said that Logan liked to play with tape – any kind of tape – and had once wrapped herself up in rope.

DHS nurse Pam Harpine, who is Schofield’s sister and was the last person to take the stand Friday, testified that she saw “nothing that struck me as not being appropriate,” when asked about her observations of her sister and Logan. She saw Logan and Bailey only on two holidays, she said.

Logan’s biological mother, Christy Reposa, formerly Christy Marr, her family, and Logan’s natural father, John Wagg, sat through the trial from the beginning.

Outside the court Friday, Reposa said that the prosecutors had told her a murder conviction would be difficult to get. “I was a little bit surprised,” Reposa said, referring to the judge’s decision Thursday. “I was angry.

“We’re going to just hope and pray we get her on manslaughter,” she said.