W.V. Man Charged On Accusation He Left 8-Year-Old Alone in Garage for Week While He Traveled By KC Baker

A West Virginia man is facing criminal charges after he was accused of leaving an 8-year-old boy alone in a garage for a week without food, water or a bathroom, while he traveled to Florida, according to authorities.

On Monday, Aug. 25, Juan Jose Benitez-Chacon, 34, of Anmoore, was arrested and charged with gross neglect of a child creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury — a felony, according to online court records.

On Aug. 15, deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a child “who was left alone in a garage for approximately one week,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by 12WBOY.

The deputies allegedly found the child inside a small garage, with no water or food, according to the criminal complaint also obtained by WDTV. The child then told the deputies that he didn’t know when Benitez-Chacon would return, according to the complaint, WV Metro News reports.

He told the deputies that neighbors helped him during the day, but not at night, per the outlet.

Neighbors could not see or hear the boy in case of an emergency, the complaint alleges.

Leaving the boy alone without food, water or supervision created an “extremely unsafe” situation for him, officials wrote in the complaint, per WDTV.

Authorities did not specify whether the boy is Benitez-Chacon’s son or what their relationship is.

He remains held at the North Central Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond, according to online jail records, and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 3.

It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.