Single dad pleads guilty to abusing (torturing) 7-year-old son (Bay City, Michigan)

Single dad MICHAEL S. HARSHA has been convicted of abusing (torturing) his 7-year-old son, and letting some psycho couple who lived with him do the same. These sickos beat, burned, starved this poor little boy. The little boy's mom died in 2003 (thank you to the reporter for finding this out). Dad will get 15 years in prison--then it seems he'll be allowed to do this to some other helpless child.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2009/08/bay_city_father_pleads_guilty.html

Bay City father pleads guilty to abusing son
by Cole Waterman The Bay City Times
Friday August 07, 2009, 4:49 PM

The father who allegedly abused and allowed others to abuse his 7-year-old son will face up to 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty to child abuse.

Michael S. Harsha, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of first degree child abuse in Bay County Circuit Court on Friday. A charge of second degree child abuse was dismissed, court records show.

The charge carries a sentence of nine to 15 years in prison. Harsha is scheduled for sentencing before Bay County Circuit Judge William J. Caprathe at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 21.

The abuse took place from March through September 2007 at Harsha's home on Ninth Street in Bay City. During that span, Michael J. and Cassandra K. Pasquale -- a couple who lived with Harsha and his son -- allegedly starved, tortured and burned the child.

The abuse came to light in September 2007 when a social worker from the Department of Human Services visited the Harsha home and noticed a burn on the child's arm. The worker told Harsha to take his son to the hospital.

Arriving at Bay Regional Medical Center, the boy weighed 31 pounds and eventually told authorities Michael Pasquale had set his arm on fire after dousing it with lighter fluid.

The boy went on to describe other mistreatments, including starvation, severe beatings and forced cold showers.

In June, the Pasquales pleaded no contest to first degree child abuse and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. In July, they were sentenced to nine to 15 years behind prison.

The boy's mother died in 2003. He has since been adopted by family members.

Bay County Prosecutor Kurt Asbury said the child is recovering remarkably well since his ordeal.