Court date set for couple in abuse of adopted son

Court date set for couple in abuse of adopted son

February 3, 2006

Bob Weigand

The Buffalo News

A professor and his wife accused of abusing their adopted 4-year-old son are due back in Alfred Village Court on Monday.

Tuesday, Alfred police charged Jane H. Cochran, 43, with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Her husband, Timothy J. Cochran, 58, an associate professor at Alfred State College, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

The Cochrans, of Jericho Hill Road, were arrested after police and Child Protective Services were notified Monday through a child abuse hotline.

Alfred Police Chief Scott Cicirello said they posted bail.

Police said a man who had been handed the child -- reportedly by Mrs. Cochran -- called the abuse hotline.

A Child Protective Services worker and the police found the boy "had severe bruising, cuts from head to toe.

He'd been beaten by hand and with a wooden spoon and had been cut with scissors," said Cicirello.

The boy was taken to Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville, for evaluation and was taken from his parents' home, said Cicirello.

The couple's three other children, none of whom reportedly showed signs of abuse, also were removed from the home.