City police have come out with more charges against the parents of the 6-year-old boy who brought a loaded handgun onto a school bus Wednesday morning. Carolyn Claudio, 43, of 335 Bank St., Batavia was charged with second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police allege that during a search of Claudio's residence Wednesday, a small amount of cocaine and drug paraphernalia were found in the "living area" of the home where they would have been "easily accessible to the children." This is the same residence in which Claudio's 6-year-old son located the loaded handgun that he brought to school with him Wednesday morning. Carolyn Claudio will appear in court to answer the charges on Tuesday.
The boy's father, Juan Claudio Sr., 40, of 108 Jackson St., Batavia, received another charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Following the news reports of Juan Claudio's arrest, two Batavia residents came forward to claim that Claudio attempted to sell them a gun this past Saturday at a home in Batavia. When the two were shown the gun that the boy brought on the bus Wednesday, they confirmed that it was, in fact, the same gun that the father had offered for sale.
A report in the Daily News filed this morning by Scott DeSmit states that the boy found the ".22 caliber handgun" at his mother's home under her bed and "tucked inside a velvet Crown Royal whiskey pouch."
For more details, please see our previous coverage. You can also view the response from the city police and school superintendent in our video coverage.
Update at 3:47pm: We spoke with Batavia Det. Richard Schauf to find out more on the status of the two young children, the 6-year-old who brought the gun onto the school bus and his 7-year-old brother who had alerted the bus driver to that fact. Schauf told us that Carolyn Claudio could not be arraigned in court today as it was closed due to the weather. Both children "will remain in the custody of the mom," said Schauf. At least, for now.
The Department of Social Services is supervising the situation. They have been notified of the charges filed against Carolyn Claudio today. Whether they take the children away—"That's their call," said Schauf.
subsidized housing and can
subsidized housing and can still afford drugs.....big surprise. My daughter was on that bus. The gun was out and being waved around with fake gun sounds, not as innocent as the school made it sound. Nobody talk to the kids on the kids on the bus, as Margret Puzio stated. Mrs. Puzio also stated that parents were called by 8:30 that morning, I didn't get the call until 9:40. My daughter watched the video with John Zola and Margaret Puzio and now thinks the district super is a liar. I told her that maybe she was mistaken...hard to defend them.
I am suprized that the mother
I am suprized that the mother isnt in jail...Thank god that no one was hurt..
This is a very good example
This is a very good example of why we need better law enforcement to prevent unregistered guns from falling into the hands of people who use guns in an illegal way.
School districts cannot give out all of the information, especially in the case of criminal activities involving minors. Why would we want to put a six year old through that? The parents I agree should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, this poor six year old probably just picked up a gun (he sees them all the time on TV), probably doesn't appreciate the power of firearms and isn't aware that it could actually hurt someone (like most six year olds) and brought it on the bus treating it like a toy. Thank God for the brother, the hero, who reported the incident.
I feel bad for the kids.