John and Carolyn Jackson

A U.S. Army major and his wife pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges alleging the couple abused their three foster children by withholding food and water, making the children eat red pepper and assaulting them to the point of breaking their bones.

An Army major and his wife accused of abusing their three foster children are free on $250,000 bail each.

An Army major and his wife disciplined their three foster children over a span of several years by withholding food and water and assaulting them severely enough to cause broken bones, a federal indictment released Tuesday charged.