JOPLIN, Missouri—One of two Missouri men accused of subjecting an 11-year-old boy to grueling exercises and beatings has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Thirty-year-old Robert Black-Gamble was sentenced on Monday, March 25, after pleading guilty to felony child abuse. As part of his plea agreement, a second count of child abuse was dismissed.
A pair of babysitters made an 11 year-old boy perform grueling exercises for seven hours straight and beat him if he…
The Joplin Globe reports that Black-Gamble and 33-year-old John Mason Jr., both of Joplin, were arrested in January.
Authorities said the boy had showed up at school with severe bruising on his buttocks.
A probable-cause affidavit states Black-Gamble made the boy perform physical training exercises, including push-ups, sit-ups, wall sits and planks for about seven hours.
Whenever the boy complained, he would be spanked with a hand, belt, wooden kitchen utensil, and tree branch.
Mason, who is accused of participating in the abuse, has a preliminary hearing scheduled May 15.
How to Report Suspected Child Maltreatment
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact your local child protective services office or law enforcement agency so officials can investigate and assess the situation. Most states have a number to call to report abuse or neglect.
To find out where to call, consult the State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers website.
The Childhelp organization can also provide crisis assistance and other counseling and referral services. Contact them at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
“Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children),” according to Childhelp.