SMETHPORT — A Bradford couple was sentenced last week in McKean County Court to serve terms of probation and community service for charges of endangering a child.
Andrew M. Bishop, 31, and Mellinda D. Davies, 30, both of State Street, were each ordered to serve 18 months of probation and perform 50 hours of community service.
According to the criminal complaints filed at the time the couple were arrested, on Oct. 29, 2020, a Bradford City police officer was contacted by McKean County Children and Youth Services about a potential neglect case. A 3-year-old child was flown by medical helicopter from Bradford Regional Medical Center to Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 25 for treatment, and CYS was investigating.
On Jan. 6, the final investigative report from CYS was given to police. The report indicated the child had been neglected by Bishop and Davies, that the child’s teeth were rotted and full of bacteria, the child lacked medical care and had missed nine doctor’s appointments, the complaints stated.
When the child was taken for a health visit in August, the doctor found the child had multiple issues including with feeding, speech and behavior. The child weighed 30 pounds. On Oct. 25, the child weighed only 24 pounds.
When taken to BRMC on Oct. 25, “the child was emaciated and had matted hair that was full of lice. Due to the level of care needed, the child was (flown) to Oishei Children’s Hospital that same day,” the complaints read.
While at the Buffalo hospital, the child had to have surgery to have a nasogastric feeding tube put in to receive nutrition, as the child was “unable to suck or sip on a sippy cup.” The child was at the hospital until Nov. 11.
