Entertainment

‘Dr. Phil’ abuse kid could be sent back to Russia

The Anchorage mom charged with child abuse after appearing on “Dr. Phil” has triggered an international incident.

But “Dr. Phil” is distancing itself from the story — and insiders say it has no intention of revisiting what’s become a worldwide headline-grabber.

“Dr. Phil” officials had no comment yesterday.

Jessica Beagley, shown on videotape forcing her Russian-born adopted son, Christoph, to drink hot sauce and then take a freezing-cold shower, has angered the Russian government.

If Beagley is found guilty, the 7-year-old boy and his twin brother, adopted two years ago, could be sent back to Russia, according to The Anchorage Daily News.

“There is quite a big chance” of that happening, Tony Astakhov, an assistant to Russia’s Commissioner of Children’s Rights, told the newspaper.

Nearly all adoptions from the Russian Federation to the US have been put on hold over the past year as “diplomats on both sides work to get Russia better oversight of the adopted kids,” according to the report. All children adopted from Russia retain their Russian citizenship.

A representative from the Russian Consulate in Seattle visited the Beagley home and determined none of the couple’s six children were in any danger of being harmed, according to the report.

Beagley and her videotape appeared on a “Dr. Phil” episode last November called “Mommy Confessions.” In the video, which went viral on the Internet, Beagley is shown pouring hot sauce in Christoph’s mouth then makes him take a cold shower after he was caught in a lie.

The videotape led to a police investigation. Beagley, 36, was charged last Friday with a misdemeanor count of child abuse.

Her attorney entered a plea of not guilty. Beagley wasn’t in the coutrtoom — but at least one Russian media outlet covered the hearing, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

Beagley’s next court date is scheduled for March 21.