MONROE — An Albany man arrested and charged with shoving and choking a child in his care is in Green County Circuit Court this week.

For alleged crimes against the young victim from March to early July of 2026, Joshua R. Bliss, 38, is charged with felony physical abuse of a child — repeated acts causing bodily harm, felony strangulation and suffocation, and misdemeanor obstructing an officer.

Bliss was scheduled to appear in circuit court Tuesday for a pretrial conference.

According to the criminal complaint, the child was punished so harshly through physical activity that a neighbor called police, helping initiate a criminal investigation that included both alleged routine abuse — during the course of supervising the child — and punitive abuse, such as forced running for extended periods of time while carrying some type of weights; and another strenuous activity involving the handling of frozen meat barehanded.

“The complainant, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that an adult male was yelling at a child, making (them) run in the rain,” said the complaint, detailing a neighbor’s report. “The caller stated that the child could barely stand at one point, (and) was being yelled at by an adult male …”

The defendant repeatedly denied any abuse and throughout his interactions with investigators told police he was using a “corrective training” technique on the boy. In the criminal complaint, a few others, including children, in the care or vicinity of the defendant, denied that abuse occurred or that they saw any.

The victim told investigators that, in another incident, the defendant poured water into their mouth to the point that they vomited and was then forced by the defendant to eat his own vomit. The child was also repeatedly shoved and choked, according to the complaint, which also noted that the victim’s biological father took the child to the hospital to have suspicious bruises checked out by doctors.

“Right before he was done eating…(Victim) said that (they were) thrown to the ground and choked outside, after (they) was thrown to the ground, Josh choked (them),” said the complaint.

Bliss pleaded not guilty to all three charges in court on September 21, records indicate. He remains free on a $15,000 signature bond.

If convicted, the most serious charge — felony physical abuse of a child — carries a maximum possible prison sentence of 15 years, while felony strangulation and suffocation carries a six-year maximum penalty.