BUTTE – A Butte couple is accused of handcuffing their adopted 12-year-old son naked to a milk crate in a bathtub and taping his mouth shut as punishment for taking food.
The Montana Standard reports the 47-year-old man and 45-year-old woman were arrested Monday. They have been charged with criminal endangerment and assault on a minor.
The newspaper did not identify them to protect the child’s identity.
Child and Family Services officials have placed the boy in a group home after authorities were called to Walmart on Friday. Officials said the boy told workers at the store that he had been left there by his parents.
Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester says the couple admitted to restraining the boy and said it was punishment for taking food they had forbidden him to eat.