SCHENECTADY — The father accused of manslaughter in the starvation death of his daughter appeared in Schenectady City Court Friday, with the court adjourning a preliminary hearing for two weeks.
Robert Buskey, 33, has been charged with a felony count of second-degree manslaughter for the death of his 5-year-old daughter Charlotte, who died on April 14 after authorities said she was not provided food or water for five days.
Buskey was additionally charged with three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. His 3-year-old son tested positive for cocaine when he was found by police early on Sunday morning. The boy received medical treatment and has been in the process of recovering from the incident.
Buskey is next scheduled to appear in City Court in front of Judge Carl Falotico on May 3 at 9 a.m.
Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney John Carson said the felony case could potentially move to Schenectady County Court.
Charlotte Buskey
Carson said that additional charges against Buskey or additional suspects have not been ruled out. Buskey's sister Nikki claimed when speaking the Gazette earlier this week that her brother had a live-in girlfriend that was residing at 203 Elmer Ave. at the time of Charlotte’s death.
“This remains a very active investigation into the circumstances of the death of a five-year-old,” Carson said. “Certainly, as that investigation unfolds, different facts and circumstances may come to light. Additional evidence may come to light. Certainly we’ll continue to look into the weeks and days leading up to this five-year-old’s death to determine the full extent of criminal responsibility for any one person or additional people who may have criminal responsibility.”
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, introduced a bill in the state Assembly on Thursday calling for harsher penalties for manslaughter resulting in the death of a child.
The proposed legislation calls for such cases to be prosecuted as Class A-1 felonies instead of the current Class C level.
"It's cases like Charlotte's that highlight the need for legislative action to ensure justice for victims of such heinous crimes," Santabarbara noted in a statement. "Those responsible for neglect or abuse leading to the death of a child must face the toughest penalties and full accountability under the law."
If enacted, the bill would align manslaughter cases which result in the death of a child with murder charges — resulting heavier sentences.
Under current state law, manslaughter resulting in a child's death is not differentiated from manslaughter resulting in the death of an adult.
"Charlotte's story emphasizes how vulnerable our children are and the need for stronger penalties for those who harm them," Santabarbara noted. "This legislation sends a clear message: if you harm a child through neglect or abuse, you will face the toughest penalties and be fully accountable under the law."