An Indiana man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly assaulting four children with a belt, threatening to suffocate them and forcing them to stand in a corner until they could no longer remain upright.
On Monday, Nov. 3, Curtis Bordenkircher of New Palestine was arrested and charged with four felony counts of neglect of a dependent and two felony counts of intimidation, according to online court records. He was released the following day on a $600 cash bond and is expected back in court on Dec. 4, where he has entered a plea of not guilty.
The judge issued four separate “no contact” orders for the protection of the children, per the online records. Authorities have not clarified what relationship, if any, Bordenkircher has with them.
The allegations surfaced on Oct. 17 after the local Department of Child Safety received a report that a child had “light blue bruising” on her buttocks from being whipped with a belt, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX59 and the Daily Reporter. Investigators subsequently determined that four children had allegedly been subjected to abuse.
One child had texted their mother to report what was happening, the affidavit states. When investigators first spoke with the children and asked whether they were doing well, they shook their heads no; two younger children reportedly began to cry.
All four were later interviewed at a child advocacy center, where they described the alleged abuse.
According to the affidavit, one child told investigators that Bordenkircher would drink heavily — “Beer, after beer, after beer,” — and then become angry with them, FOX59 reported. He allegedly forced them to stand in a corner for long periods, telling them, “You all are in the corner until your legs are numb,” and, “I have no sympathy for you … You stand all night.”
Investigators noted in the affidavit that Bordenkircher was drinking from a beer can while officers questioned him.
One child alleged that during a visit in early October, Bordenkircher beat her with a belt, dragged her by her ankles and made her stand in a corner until her legs went numb, according to the Daily Reporter.
Another child told authorities that Bordenkircher grabbed her by the neck and threatened to push her through a wall if she didn’t stay quiet, the affidavit states. It also alleges he threatened to “suffocate” them with a pillow and “slaughter them in their sleep” if they didn’t “shut up.” During these threats, he allegedly held a knife to one of the children.
It is not known whether Bordenkircher has secured legal representation.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is free, confidential, available 24/7 and supports more than 170 languages.
