BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – A Brookville man is facing charges after he allegedly used a wooden rod and a wooden spoon to smack two boys “under six years of age.”
According to a criminal complaint, Brookville Police were contacted by Jefferson County Children and Youth Services for a report of child abuse around 4:35 p.m. on July 23.
A CYS worker reported Joshua Lee Bish, 27, of Brookville, had allegedly “hit two boys under the age of six with a wooden stick leaving welts, bruises, and possible bleeding,” the complaint states.
Police and a CYS worker responded to the address where the abuse allegedly took place, speaking with the mother and the the two young boys. The CYS worker asked the boys what happened, and they said “Josh got angry because (they) were trying to go out the window and got a wooden stick and smacked their bums really hard” on July 21, the complaint indicates.
The mother of the children allegedly confirmed Bish “smacked” the children that day, saying “she didn’t realize he hit them that hard,” the complaint continues.
When asked where they had been struck, both boys showed police and the CYS worker severe welts and bruising on their buttocks, and one of the boys showed police the pieces of a 1/2-inch wooden rod and “said Josh smacked his bum and broke the stick,” according to the complaint.
The mother told police Bish allegedly struck the boys with a wooden spoon, which she provided. Police and the CYS worker noted the welts allegedly matched the wooden rod. The mother allegedly said Bish hit the boys because they tried to go out the window after being told once not to do so, the complaint indicates.
Police spoke with Bish, who allegedly admitted he hit the children on July 21 because he was angry and said “he didn’t think he’d hit them hard enough to leave welts.” Bish allegedly “acknowledged the difference between a swat and a beating with wooden utensils,” according to the complaint.
Police advised Bish it was inappropriate to injure children of that age with a wooden rod and said it is the parents responsibility to make sure a home is safe and children can’t reach the windows. Police told Bish his being angry wasn’t justification for his actions, the complaint indicates.
Police spoke with the children’s mother again, who said she did not call police or seek medical attention for the children because she wasn’t aware they had been hit that hard and the welts had only shown up the day police arrived, the complaint states.
Police advised the children’s mother that not seeking the proper help to stop the actions when her children were in danger is considered not rendering aid, and that it was her duty as a parent to make sure her children were safe at all time. She was advised that charges could be filed against her when she realized that her kids were in danger, according to police.
Based on the information gathered during the investigation, Officer Marshall, of Brookville Boro Police Department, requested a warrant of arrest for Joshua Bish.
According to online court documents, Bish was arraigned at 1:38 p.m. on July 24 before District Judge Gregory Bazylak in District Court 54-03-03.
He faces the following charges:
- Aggravated Assault – Victim Less Than 6 and Defendant 18 or older, second-degree felony
- Aggravated Assault – Victim Less Than 13 and Defendant 18 or older, first-degree felony
- Simple Assault, first-degree misdemeanor (two counts)
- Endangering Welfare of Children, third-degree felony Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense (two counts)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person, second-degree misdemeanor (two counts)
- Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, (two counts)
Unable to post bail of $125,000.00, he was placed in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing has been set for 10:00 a.m. August 11 with Judge Bazylak presiding.
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