Four charged in vicious Albion child abuse investigation
ALBION — Just one meal a day, doused with hot sauce.
That’s what four Albion adults allegedly allowed a 10-year-old child who the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office says was forced to work outside all day without food, water or bathroom access, tied to the back of a vehicle and dragged, and subjected to repeated physical abuse with what the suspects referred to as “the beating stick.”
Gary Bubis Jr., 37, Shawn Whaley, 23, and Brandy Shaver, 18, all of 393 Albion Cross Road, Albion, face second-degree assault charges.
The 34-year-old mother of the 10-year-old faces a count of endangering the welfare of a child in connection to the investigation, which also involves a 3-year-old who still suffers burn wounds from Bubis allegedly forcing its hand into a container of scalding water, deputies said.
According to the sheriff’s office, the 10-year-old fled to a neighbor’s residence Wednesday morning, reporting harrowing allegations of physical abuse since at least April.
“After seeing the condition of the child, (the neighbor) immediately called 911,” said Undersheriff Eugene Sullivan in an interview.
Deputies responded at 11 a.m. and noticed the alleged victim had suffered physical injuries warranting immediate medical attention, Sullivan said.
The 10-year-old was admitted and remains at Golisano Children’s Hospital, Sullivan said, where further investigation allegedly revealed injuries that corroborated the child’s accusations.
Deputies say the 10-year-old was the target of repeated abuse by the adults: Whereas other children in the house were allegedly given regular meals, clothing and proper bedding, the 10-year-old was allegedly deprived of food, slept on a couch, worked outside all day clearing brush at the property and hadn’t been allowed a bath for almost a month.
The sheriff’s office said a 12-year-old at the home was an unwilling participant in the alleged abuse, forced to beat the 10-year-old with a makeshift device the suspects called “the beating stick,” which deputies said was tightly rolled up newspaper wrapped in electrical tape.
The 10-year-old was allegedly struck with open hands, closed fists and kicked repeatedly in alleged abuse that escalated for months, according to the sheriff’s office, which notes the investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely.
The assault charges for Whaley and Shaver stem from a recent incident in which they allegedly took the 10-year-old to Happy Valley Game Management Park in the middle of the night and “forced (the child) to run with weighted backpacks,” according to a sheriff’s office press release.
“The victim was followed and struck by the motor vehicle for running too slow,” deputies wrote. “The victim was tied to the rear of the vehicle by a rope for running too slow and was dragged.”
The assault charge for Bubis stems from allegations he forced a 3-year-old’s hand into a container of hot water. The child’s hand still showed injuries Wednesday and it remains unclear whether the child ever received medical attention after the alleged incident, according to deputies.
Bubis, Whaley and Shaver were arraigned early Thursday morning in Williamstown Town Court, according to chief assistant district attorney Mark Moody.
All were remanded to the Oswego County Correctional Facility in lieu of Moody’s recommended bail of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.
The mother was released on her own recognizance and her next court date was unavailable by press time.
Whaley and Shaver must appear in Williamstown Town Court Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., while Bubis is due in Albion Town Court Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
Moody noted a Williamstown judge issued an order of protection barring the defendants from any contact with the alleged victims.
Sullivan said it was his understanding the children who lived in the home have been taken in by relatives.
Anyone with more information is urged to contact investigators at 315-349-3411.