An Indiana father is facing criminal charges after reportedly striking four children with a belt, threatening to suffocate them and forcing them to stand in a corner until their knees gave out.
Curtis Bordenkircher of New Palestine was arrested on Monday, November 3, and charged with four felony counts of abandonment of a dependent and two felony counts of intimidation, according to online court documents.
Bordenkircher was released the next day on a $600 cash bail and is set to appear in court on December 4. He pled not guilty.
The judge imposed four “no contact” orders to protect the children, citing the online records.
It is unclear what Bordenkircher’s relationship is with the kids.
The alleged crimes were discovered on Oct. 17 after the local Department of Child Safety received a report about a child with “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.
The subsequent inquiry revealed that Bordenkircher had abused that child as well as three others, according to the affidavit. One of the children had also contacted their mother, informing her that Bordenkircher had abused them.
When authorities first asked the children if they were having a good time, they shook their heads, indicating that they weren’t, according to the affidavit. Two younger children started crying.
All four children were then taken to a child advocacy center where they told authorities about the alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of Bordenkircher.
According to the affidavit, one of the victims allegedly told authorities that “he drinks so much a day and then just gets mad at us,” FOX59 reported. “Beer, after beer, after beer.”
According to the publication, he would have them stand in the corner for long periods of time, taunting them with phrases such, “You all are in the corner until your legs are numb,”
He also allegedly told them, “I have no sympathy for you,” adding, “You stand all night,” the site stated.
He was drinking beer from a can while officers questioned him, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, one of the children allegedly told authorities that when she and her siblings visited Bordenkircher in early October, he beat her with a belt, dragged her by the ankles, and forced her to stand in the corner until her legs numb, as reported by The Daily Reporter.
Another child allegedly told authorities that Bordenkircher grabbed her by the neck and threatened to push her through a wall if she didn’t shut her mouth, according to the affidavit, which also alleges that Bordenkircher would threaten the children by saying if they didn’t “shut up,” he would “suffocate” them with a pillow and “slaughter them in their sleep.”
Bordenkircher allegedly put a knife to the youngster while he made these threats, said the affidavit.
It is unclear whether Bordenkircher has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453.
