APOSTOLIC News

Canton – March 23, 2010.  The young man had a note in his hand when he showed up at Apostolic Lighthouse Tabernacle one Sunday in December.

He said he was Gabriel Isaiah Thomas, but had no ID and claimed he didn’t know where he was from.

“Here is my son,” the note read, according to court papers. “If you are reading this then he is truly alone. … He is severely autistic. Good-bye to all that are left behind.”

The church contacted Perry Township police, who called in the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities, who found the young man a place to live.

But over the next few days, as investigators pieced together the fragments of the man’s story, Stark County DD and sheriff’s deputies discovered the truth.

It was a scam.

Thomas is really Bradley D. Birdsong. He’s not autistic or disabled. And on Monday Stark County Common Pleas Judge Frank Forchione sentenced him to a year in prison — the maximum — for the con.

The judge said he planned to place Birdsong, 21, in the Stark Regional Community Correction Center after Birdsong serves 60 days in prison.

Birdsong, who pleaded guilty last month to felony theft and misdemeanor obstructing official business, also has to pay the county $4,000 for the services he used.

In court, Birdsong said he has been taking life for granted and denied having a drug or alcohol problem, but didn’t give an explanation for his actions.

“It’s a despicable thing to do, really,” said Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Fred Scott. “He’s stealing from people who need those services and taking advantage of the people who work hard to provide those services.”

After his arrival at the church on Dec. 13, Stark County DD arranged for a psychological evaluation and a case worker, as well as food, clothing and shelter for Birdsong, Scott said.

Birdsong spoke with a child-like voice. He claimed he couldn’t read or write. He wore a diaper and had to be bathed, according to a summary of the investigation.

But Birdsong’s story also had holes and inconsistencies, the prosecutor said.

When a sheriff’s deputy finally confronted Birdsong about his identity on Dec. 21, his demeanor changed to that of a normal-functioning adult, according to the summary. Giving another false name, he said he had jumped from big city to big city, pulling cons and scams.

After being taken to jail, he finally gave up his real name and said he was from Arkansas.

According to the summary, Birdsong said it was the first time he had pretended to be developmentally disabled.