A Polk County couple was arrested Thursday, accused of aggravated child abuse.  The pair  made a male teen kneel on a hard wood floor for nine hours each day, for several days, as a form of punishment.
59-year-old Albert Cusson and his wife, 47-year-old Nancy, of Lakeland, were arrested, after deputies learned they had abused a 13-year-old boy in their care.
Polk County deputies say, the couple had the boy kneel with his hands behind his back on the bathroom floor from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., each day for 10 straight days.
Deputies also say, the boy was not allowed to stretch, take a break, eat or use the restroom during the nine straight hours of kneeling. If he did move, he was beaten with a stick. The boy slept in a bathtub at night.
For nutrition, the boy was given a shake each morning, prepared by Nancy, consisting of vegetables, meat, and another food, which chef Nancy described as a “protein shake with at least 1800 to 2000 calories” to detectives. He was not allowed any other food or drink for the rest of the day.
The couple told detectives this was the boy’s punishment for mishaving.
Deputies say, on March 6, the boy was told he would be kneeling all day for 20 straight days as punishment. But after two days of kneeling all day, on March 7, the boy left the residence because he “could not take it anymore.” The abuse was reported.
Marks were found on the boy’s body consistent with abuse and he had trouble walking because he was so sore from kneeling for so long, investigators said. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
The Cussons also had access to a 9-year-old girl who witnessed the abuse, and was also made to kneel herself for two days
Albert and Nancy Cusson were arrested on Thursday and charged with one count each aggravated child abuse.
“There is no excuse for this type of deplorable behavior. People who mistreat children are the worst of the worst. Jail is too good for them – the Cussons will be more comfortable in the county jail than this little boy was when he was in their care, ” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
