Monique Dilliard Bothuell, left, Charles Bothuell, right.(Photo: Detroit Police Department)
DETROIT —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The father of a Detroit boy found<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in his basement 11 days after he was reported missing in 2014
pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor child abuse and was given probation.
Charlie Bothuell IV, 47, of Detroit was sentenced to 18 months of probation and anger management classes. He's also ordered to have no contact with his son, the victim, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.
The boy was 12<span style="color: Red;">*</span>when he was reported missing in June 2014. After he was found, allegations emerged that the father subjected him to physical and psychological abuse, including an extreme exercise routine at the residence on the 1300 block of Nicolet Place.
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Scared child or troubled son? Boy found in basement testifies
Bothuell was charged with torture and two counts of felony child abuse. On Tuesday, Bothuell took a plea agreement to fourth-degree child abuse, a misdemeanor, according to the prosecutor's office. His wife, Monique Dillard-Bothuell, also had been charged in the case, but records of the case have disappeared from Wayne County Circuit<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Court's online database, and the prosecutor's office declined to comment on it.
The criminal charges against the father were<span style="color: Red;">*</span>filed nearly a year ago and set for trial at least twice.
"In light of everything that's happened to young (victim), we<span style="color: Red;">*</span>thought this was an appropriate resolution of the case for him to be able to go on with his life," prosecutor's office spokeswoman Maria Miller said.
USA TODAY
Parents of boy held in basement charged with torture
Law enforcement, including the Detroit police and the FBI, had been in the home and basement multiple times before the boy was located behind boxes June 25, 2014, during a search. His father, who had reported him missing, found out during a live television broadcast that his son had been found.
Defense attorneys had<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said the boy wanted to lose weight and was on board with working out and maintained<span style="color: Red;">*</span>he made up the story about being in the basement the whole time.
The boy<span style="color: Red;">*</span>previously<span style="color: Red;">*</span>testified that he was disciplined by his father with a plastic PVC pipe that left marks on his chest and buttocks.
Follow<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Robert Allen on Twitter:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>@rallenMI
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