Wichita ? The Newton couple who ran a home for the mentally ill could spend decades in prison for enslaving the home’s residents, forcing them to work naked and perform sex acts while billing the government and their families for the “therapy.”

Arlan Kaufman was found guilty in November of 31 federal charges and his wife, Linda, was convicted of 30 counts. They include health care fraud, Medicare fraud, forced labor and holding clients in involuntary servitude at the Kaufman House Residential Treatment Center.

A federal jury also ordered the Kaufmans to forfeit more than $85,000 and four real estate properties, including the Potwin farm where the abuse occurred.

The sentencing hearing this afternoon will include testimony from witnesses for both prosecutors and the defense.

The couple faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the conspiracy, forced labor and involuntary servitude charges; up to 10 years for each health care fraud charge; and up to five years for each of the other charges.

Among several letters that District Judge Monti Belot has received since the trial from the community is a letter from a resident’s mother. She told the judge that her son was so apprehensive while the Kaufmans were under house arrest that he required extra medications to become calm enough to function.

She said she hoped and prayed the Kaufmans would be sentenced for a long time so that her son and other former residents can never be afraid of them again.

But Belot also has received letters from some community members – and at least one former resident – asking him to show mercy to the Kaufmans.

A Newton woman told Belot that she was a resident at the Kaufman House for 15 years and had “no real trouble” while there.

“I was sorry to hear about the conviction, and would like to recommend zero or light sentencing as I feel they are not to blame,” she wrote the judge.

The Disability Rights Center of Kansas has asked the judge on behalf of four former residents to delay the restitution part of the sentencing so their clients have more time to document their claims.