An Indiana man faces serious charges of neglect and intimidation following allegations from four children who claim he threatened to suffocate them if they didn’t comply with his demands to sleep, physically assaulted them, and forced them to stand in a corner for prolonged periods.

Hancock Superior Court Judge Dan Marshall has imposed four no-contact orders on 35-year-old Curtis Edward Bordenkircher. Despite setting a $600 bond, Bordenkircher promptly posted it and was released from custody, as reported by the Greenfield Daily Reporter.

A probable cause affidavit reveals that the incidents occurred at Bordenkircher’s residence in early October. One child informed child advocates that Bordenkircher struck her with a belt, dragged her by the ankles, and made her stand in a corner until her legs became numb, all while verbally demeaning her with derogatory terms.

Another child recounted being shoved against a wall multiple times, grabbed by the neck, and subjected to repeated threats by Bordenkircher.

A third child reported that Bordenkircher threatened to “slaughter them in their sleep” if they did not “shut up,” even wielding a knife to reinforce his threats.

The fourth child stated that Bordenkircher forced them to stand in a corner for up to six hours at a time, and the children would only manage to sneak to the bathroom when he temporarily left the house.

The court document said that officers were called after one of the children texted their mother and alerted her about what was happening. Bordenkircher told the officer the kids were fine, but when asked if they were having a good night, all four children shook their heads “no.” The younger children began crying.

The children told the responding officers that Bordenkircher threatened to beat them and then followed through and that he had threatened to kill them. One of the children told deputies that he threatened to shove her through the wall if she didn’t shut up after she saw him beat another child with a belt.

According to WXIN, the children said that Bordenkircher “drinks a lot beer” when they’re at his home.

“He drinks so much a day and then he just gets mad at us,” one victim said. “Beer, after beer, after beer.”

Another victim said he literally told the children they would stand “in the corner until your legs are numb.”

“I have no sympathy for you,” he allegedly said. “You stand all night.”

Court documents say officers went to Bordenkircher’s home to speak with him about the allegations on October 15, when he blamed the children’s mother, who, he said, “manipulates” the children.

It’s not clear why Bordenkircher was charged only with neglect and intimidation nor why he got a miniscule $600 bond. It’s also not clear why the children were at his home to begin with or what connection he has with them.

The judge entered not guilty pleas on Bordenkircher’s behalf, and he is due in court again on December 4, the Daily Reporter said. He faces a maximum 2 1/2 years in prison if convicted on the charges, WXIN said.