Couple accused of keeping food from sons, sitting on them

EMERSON, Neb. – The parents of two teenagers in northeast Nebraska are accused of locking cupboards and a refrigerator to keep their sons from eating snacks and sitting on the boys as punishment.

Dakota County Court records say 41-year-old Blaine Busker and his 38-year-old wife, Donella Busker, are each charged with two misdemeanour counts of child abuse.

Court records don’t list the names of attorneys who can comment for them.

A phone listed for Blaine Busker in Emerson was not working Tuesday. A phone listed for Donella Busker rang busy during several calls from The Associated Press.

A court document says the boys were only allowed to wash their clothes once a week and allowed to shower only every other day. The parents padlocked the bathroom that contained the home’s only shower.