Caledonia police say a 57-year-old man is facing felony child abuse charges after he punched and kicked a 9-year-old boy outside a local motel.
Jon Stempe, of Caledonia, was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count each of child abuse and threatening a police officer as well as two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct. If convicted of all charges, he faces up to 13-1/2 years in prison and/or up to $22,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were dispatched Friday to the Country Inn Motel, 5828 Douglas Avenue, for a report of an assault. When police arrived, a man told them his sons were outside playing when Stempe came out of his room yelling and swearing at the boys for making noise. When the boys pointed out that he was swearing at them, he charged at them.
Police say one of the boys fell, and Stempe attacked him by punching him in the chest and kicking him multiple times. The other boy ran to get their father, and the man was able to stop Stempe from hurting his son any further.
Stempe was drunk – blowing a .246 – and belligerent with officers, the complaint reads. On the way to the Racine County Jail, he repeatedly told police he would shoot them and bash in their skulls.
Stempe remains in the Racine County Jail on a $20,000 cash bond. He will next be in court July 20 for his preliminary hearing.