ACKLEY, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man accused of abusing and locking his 8-year-old son in a space under the basement stairs will go to trial in September. Television station KCCI reports that Alex Shadlow’s kidnapping trial has been moved to the Dickinson County Courthouse due to pre-trial publicity.

Authorities say the boy was locked up for at least 9 hours a day last summer in a space under the basement stairs at the couple’s Ackley home. Authorities say the couple withheld food from him and made him endure dog bites. He slept on concrete and had no access to a bathroom.

Shadlow’s fiance, 40-year-old Traci Tyler, was tried on similar charges last month. She is still waiting for a verdict.