VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A grandfather was found guilty in Virginia Beach of child abuse on Monday for an incident involving his 5-year-old grandson.
A judge found 73-year-old Richard Bauserman guilty of felony child abuse in connection with an incident that occurred in November of 2023, where Bauserman’s grandson accidentally shot himself in his right hip.
In court Monday, Bauserman, who listed his address as Rochester, NY, pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of child abuse and neglect even though he said he agreed with the evidence against him.
Bauserman told police that the victim’s father handed a firearm to him while he retrieved a holster for Bauserman to wear.
Bauserman testified in court he dropped the loaded magazine out of the gun, but also noticed a bullet remained in the chamber. He set the gun down next to him on the sofa with the bullet still in the chamber.
Three children were in the same room at that time.
Bauserman said within seconds his five-year-old grandson leaped across a coffee table, grabbed the gun and accidentally shot himself in the hip.