Charlie Bothuell the 4th, the father accused of abusing his son and isolating him in the basement of their home, pleaded guilty to fourth degree child abuse Tuesday morning.
His son, 12-year-old Charlie Bothuell the 5th went missing for 11 days in the summer of 2014 and was later found by police in the basement.
Back then he told 7 Action News Bothuell was stunned to hear where the child was found, since he said Detroit Police and the FBI had been camped out at his Detroit home.
He and his wife, Monique Dillard, were soon charged with Torture and Child Abuse 2nd. Those charges were dismissed in the summer of 2015 due to holes in the case
“This entire story being blown up all over the world… with my son being bloody and me having this plastic stick… this bloody plastic stick that was being paraded in front of the media. There was no bloody, plastic stick,” Charlie the 4th said around that time.
While his wife accepted a plea deal to 4th degree child abuse, Charlie the 4th vowed to fight the same charge until the end.
Tuesday, Bothuell changed his mind and sent this message to 7 Action News reporter Tara Edwards:
The plea deadline had passed, and I had NO INTENTION of taking a Plea, which is why I had to PURPOSELY let it pass. But with no money left to continue my over 1.5 year fight for Justice, I had no more ability to continue fighting the State. So I did end up taking the Plea Deal today. I had no more money left to fight with, and I wouldn’t have been able to change that in time for trial. This process broke my family and finances. It’s time for me to move forward and begin rebuilding my life.
Charlie the 4th now sentenced to 18 months probation and must complete anger management classes.
Restitution still has to be sorted out, but he told 7 Action News he is determined to fully clear his name one day.
