A former North Carolina soldier faces child abuse charges even though officials said he didn’t abuse his children.

Brad Thill was working in Afghanistan as a defense contractor.

He said he returned to Cameron, N.C., to find his adopted children malnourished and abused.

He said he took immediate action.  But DSS officials said he failed to report the abuse.

“Two of the children had lost a significant amount of weight my initial instinct was they need to eat immediately,” Thill said.

“Bottom line, you failed to come to the assistance of those kids and report or do something to get them medical attention,” said Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins.

Thill’s ex-wife, Leslie Tiesley, is also charged in the case.  Police said Tiesley locked her children in a tool box as punishment.

The sheriff said there is no evidence Thill participated in the alleged abuse and torture, only that he did not report it.

Police said the children are gaining weight since they were removed from the home.