Butte couple accused of handcuffing child to bed and taping mouth shut

(BUTTE) Jonathan and Debra Hay pleaded not guilty in Butte District Court on Thursday to felony criminal endangerment charges in connection with unlawfully restraining a child in their home.

They are accused of handcuffing a child to the bed, taping socks over the child’s hands, and taping the child’s mouth in June.

The couple was remanded to jail on $125,000 bond each.

(JULY 2, 2018) A 47-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were charged in Justice Court on Monday with felony counts of criminal endangerment and assault on a minor.

Disturbing details from Butte police say the couple put the child in the bathtub and handcuffed him to a milk crate and even put duct tape over the child’s mouth to prevent him from eating.

According to police, they did this to punish the child because he was taking food from the kitchen.

Police added that other children in the house have been put in foster care while the parents remain in jail on $125,000 bond.

Police said the victim is in foster care and in good health and police are continuing their investigation into this matter.