CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich — The father of a Cedar Springs boy will likely spend time in jail after pleading guilty to child abuse.
Michael Rus, 47, is accused of keeping his 7-year-old son locked inside a large wooden box for up to 9.5 hours a day, without blankets or pillows and sometimes withholding food from him.
Rus pled guilty to the felony charge of 2nd degree child abuse. The charges of unlawful imprisonment and habitual offender were dropped. Rus can spend up to 10 years in jail for his conviction.
Rus and his 38-year-old girlfriend Jessica Kilgore—who pled guilty to 2nd degree child abuse in May—were arrested by Kent County Sheriff's deputies in February following a welfare check on the child.
Investigators said Rus showed the box to deputies, calling it a "makeshift room."
The "room" was a wooden box that was three feet wide and four feet deep.
Deputies said Rus admitted to the abuse when he was taken into custody, detailing how he and Kilgore forced the boy to run, withheld food from him, and also forced him to stand outside in the cold as punishment.
Rus will be sentenced on Aug. 19 at 1:30 p.m. Kilgore will be sentenced on July 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Rus posted a $10,000 cash surety bond on July 12.
If you know someone who is a victim of child abuse, you can contact Child Protective Services at 855-444-3911. You can also contact support resources at 211 if you are concerned about the well-being of a child.
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