OREGON CITY, Ore. — An Oregon father who was convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment in the faith-healing death of his daughter was released from jail Tuesday (Sept. 22).

Carl Worthington had been sentenced to two months but was released six days early since he did not have disciplinary issues while in county jail. Inmates may earn three days of “good time” for each month served.

Worthington still faces five years’ probation. In the long history of child deaths associated with the Followers of Christ church in Oregon City, Worthington is the first church member to be convicted for shunning medicine in favor of faith healing.

Fifteen-month-old Ava Worthington died in March 2008 while church members gathered around her for prayer, “laying on of hands,” anointing her in oil and administering small amounts of wine.

She had a softball-sized cyst on her neck that may have interfered with her breathing and swallowing, then contracted a blood infection and pneumonia.

Worthington, 29, an Oregon City painting contractor, was convicted on the misdemeanor criminal mistreatment charge but acquitted of the more serious charge of second-degree manslaughter. His wife and co-defendant, Raylene Worthington, was acquitted of all charges.

In January, Raylene Worthington’s parents, Jeff and Marci Beagley, are scheduled to go on trial in the death of their 16-year-old son, Neil Beagley, who died in June 2008 of an untreated urinary tract blockage. A state medical examiner said a simple surgical procedure could have saved his life.