Pittsville Man Arrested for Child Abuse

Thursday, March 11th, 2021 -- 2:01 PM

(Karen Madden, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune) -A Pittsville man pointed a loaded gun at an 11-year-old girl's face and threatened to shoot her pony, according to court documents.

According to Karen Madden of the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, the incident is one in a list of numerous crimes against children included in a criminal complaint Wood County Assistant District Attorney David Knaapen filed Tuesday against 52-year-old Brian S. Scapardine.

Scapardine is facing charges of child abuse, second-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon and two counts of causing mental harm to a child. Wood County Circuit Judge Greg Potter set a $10,000 signature bond for Scapardine during his initial appearance Monday.

The 11-year-old girl told Wood County investigators a pony had bitten her finger and she was "kind of crying." Scapardine, who raises horses, pointed the gun at her face and asked her if she wanted him to shoot her pony, according to the complaint.

When the girl said "no," Scapardine told her that was what would happen if she didn't stop complaining.  A Wood County Human Services social worker notified the Wood County Sheriff's Department March 31 that an 8-year-old girl had injuries to her neck, according to the complaint.

The 8-year-old girl said she told Scapardine she wanted to go home to her mother, when he became angry and grabbed her on both sides of her neck, lifting her up until she was standing on her tiptoes, according to the complaint.

The 8-year-old girl told an investigator and a social worker about a time when her dog jumped out of Scapardine's truck and he ran over it. They took the dog to Scapardine's house and he made the children watch the dog die, according to the complaint.  

Scapardine became angry with the 8-year-old while she was in his car on another occasion. He parked on the side of the road, dragged the girl to a nearby lake and threw her in, according to the complaint.

The girl told an investigator she almost drowned and Scapardine had to go in and get her out.  The girl also said Scapardine became angry with her when she chewed with her mouth open and threatened to stab her in the head with a fork, according to the complaint.

The 8-year-old girl said Scapardine would wake up the older girl and a boy by pouring ice water over them, according to the complaint.  The children told an investigator that they were afraid Scapardine would come to their mother's house and take them away, according to the complaint.

When an investigator talked to Scapardine, he said the children were at his house during the same time when the children said the incidents happened, according to the complaint.

Scapardine told investigators he did grab the older girl by the face and turned her toward him when he thought she might have lied, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Scapardine faces a maximum sentence of 46 years in prison. His next court appearance had not yet been scheduled on Tuesday. 

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.