Police said the alleged incidents happened during a basketball game and while children were wrestling at a Washington County birthday celebration.
SCOTTSBURG, Ind. — A 39-year-old Indiana father is facing three felony battery charges after authorities said he bit two children during a basketball game and struck another child at his child’s birthday party in southern Indiana.
Thomas Russell is charged with three counts of battery causing injury to a person under 14, according to Washington Circuit Court records cited by multiple news organizations. The alleged incidents happened Nov. 7 at Delaney Creek Park in Washington County, where Russell had rented a cabin for his child’s birthday party. Russell has denied biting the children, according to an arrest citation reported by local media.
The investigation began after a mother noticed a large bite mark on the back of her 9-year-old son following the party, according to the arrest citation. Deputies went to speak with the boy and learned that another parent was heading to the park after discovering that his 10-year-old son also had been bitten.
The 10-year-old told investigators that Russell bit him on the wrist during the basketball game, according to the citation. Both boys reportedly said the alleged bites happened after they fell while holding the basketball and would not give it to Russell. Other children at the party told investigators they witnessed the encounters.
According to the citation, some children also told deputies that Russell said “biting is allowed” during the game. The statement is attributed to witnesses in the court-related record and has not been independently established beyond those accounts.
A third child, a 9-year-old boy, told investigators that he and Russell were “leg wrestling” inside the rented cabin when Russell allegedly struck him in the groin, according to the citation. Other children also reported seeing that encounter. Russell denied striking the child, according to reporting based on the arrest record.
Russell acknowledged that he had been playing basketball with the children at the party but denied biting anyone, according to the reported citation. Deputies later arrested him, and he was booked into jail as the investigation moved into the court system.
During an initial court appearance Nov. 10, a judge entered a not guilty plea on Russell’s behalf, according to People and local reporting. His bond was set at $30,000 cash. Court records also indicate that he was ordered not to attend sporting events involving the alleged victims, including events in which his own child participates.
Russell is scheduled to return to court Dec. 10. A jury trial is currently set for March 2027, according to local reporting. The charges are allegations, and Russell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.