SOUTHPORT, NY — Chemung County Sheriff’s Office has arrested RICHARD A. BROWN, age 57, 27 Lightizer Road, Town of Southport, Chemung County, after three runaway teenagers were found living on his property in a shed without water, heat, bathroom facilities, insulation or electricity. Brown was charged with two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor.
On Wednesday, May 5, Chemung County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Criminal Investigation Division responded to BROWN’s residence for a separate investigation. During that time, deputies discovered a 17-year-old male, a 14-year-old female and a 13-year-old male were residing in a shed on the property for over a week, without running water, heat, bathroom facilities, insulation, or electricity.
Through further investigation, deputies learned the teenagers were runaways from Ontario and Niagara counties. With the assistance of the Chemung County Child Protective Services, the teens were returned to their respective counties.
BROWN was arrested and released on an appearance ticket on two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and is due to appear in the Town of Southport Court on May 20.
