Man arrested for child abuse

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Philip Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — Randy Begay, 40, is in jail on $25,000 cash bail for allegedly beating a 3-month-old boy.

McKinley County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested Begay Friday following a two-day investigation, which showed the infant had been left with the child’s grandmother and her boyfriend, Randy Begay, on Sept. 3 while the child’s parents were at work.

The grandmother, Esther Rodriquez, went to work around noon, leaving the infant along with three of his older siblings at her home in Begay’s care, according to investigators’ reports. Two and a half hours later, Begay called the infant’s mother, Raylene Bitsilly, at work. Begay said the baby wouldn’t stop crying and asked if he was sick. She said he wasn’t but that she would come to check on him.

After arranging a ride, Bitsilly arrived to find the infant with red marks on his face, scrapes on his hands and a bruise on his left eyelid. Bitsilly took the child to Gallup Indian Medical Center where doctors also found bleeding on the infant’s feet and severe bruising on his buttocks.

Bitsilly contacted Sheriff’s deputies and her husband, Orlando Bitsilly, who became visibly disturbed when deputies explained what had happened. Investigator Ron Saavedra reported finding Randy Begay drunk when he arrived at Esther Rodriquez’s home to interview him. Begay’s eyes were turgid and bloodshot and he slurred when he spoke. He emanated a strong malt-liquor odor and said he had drank nine bottles of Old English that day, Saavedra said.

When Saavedra asked Begay to piece together the events that occurred while the infant was in his care, Begay’s story broke down, stating at one point that he had wrapped and re-wrapped the infant and patted him in an effort to quiet his crying, then, just before Bitsilly arrived to check on him, laid the infant on the couch where the infant fell asleep; and stating later that he had given the infant a bath just before Bitsilly arrived to check on him.

After completing interviews and obtaining warrants, investigators arrested Begay on one charge of child abuse, a third-degree felony.