Father pleads guilty to abuse charge in boy-in-basement case

DETROIT – A Detroit man whose son had claimed he hid in his basement for 11 days out of fear of being mistreated has pleaded guilty to child abuse.

Charles Bothuell IV pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree misdemeanor Tuesday in a Wayne County court. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation and anger management classes. He also is prohibited from having contact with his son, Charlie Bothuell V.

A judge last year dismissed torture charges against the elder Bothuell and his wife, saying she didn't believe the boy's claim to be so paralyzed by fear that he couldn't call for help during a highly publicized search after he was reported missing.

But the judge did order the two to stand trial on child abuse charges, based on photos of the 13-year-old.