Orlando P. Dejesus, 37, has been charged with the class D felony of endangering the welfare of a child.
DeJesus remains in custody at the Platte County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash only bond. He is due back in court on Tuesday, May 26 before judge Quint Shafer. DeJesus told court officials during a hearing held via video conference on Tuesday, May 19 that he had filed two applications for public defender, but the public defender’s office reported it had not received any applications.
On April 27, officers of the Kansas City Police Department were dispatched to QuikTrip on Barry Road for a reported disturbance, according to court documents.
DeJesus
When officers arrived they observed the victim — a juvenile — crawling on his hands and knees wearing only pajama pants. His left wrist was handcuffed to his right ankle and he had a significant amount of red marks on his back and torso.
He told officers that his uncle had handcuffed him the previous night to stop him from running away and that on April 26, his father, Dejesus, had whipped him with a cord after he had run away from his residence.
The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment, where they discovered he was also severely malnourished.
Photographs were taken of his injuries showing the extensive amount of welt marks on his back and torso were consistent with being struck with a cord. The boy said the cord that was used to strike him was white.
When officers responded to Dejesus’ residence to execute a search warrant granted by Platte County Circuit Court, two white power cords were recovered.
One of the bedroom doors had a latch where it appeared a padlock could be inserted to keep the door closed from the outside.
Dejesus and the child’s uncle were taken into custody for child abuse.
Dejesus told officers his situation was a never-ending nightmare and that after he separated from his son’s mother, she later dropped the boy off at Dejesus’ doorstep because he had a history of running away and there was repeated involvement with social workers.
He told officers that on April 26, his son ran away to Walmart and began eating food and stealing toys. When he got home Dejesus said they began to argue.
After officers showed pictures of the boy’s injuries to Dejesus he admitted to beating his son. He said in addition to a stick he used a white cable wire. The boy told officers he had previous beatings with a belt that were not as bad as this one.
Since the case involved the physical abuse of a minor and the threat Dejesus poses to the boy, a warrant was issued for his arrest on April 28.
No charges had been filed against the uncle as of press time.