An Indiana resident faces serious charges of neglect and intimidation after allegedly threatening and abusing four children. The accused, Curtis Edward Bordenkircher, is said to have threatened to suffocate the children if they refused to sleep, physically assaulted them, and made them stand in a corner for extended periods.

Hancock Superior Court Judge Dan Marshall imposed four no-contact orders on the 35-year-old Bordenkircher. After setting a bond of $600, Bordenkircher promptly paid it and was released from jail, as reported by the Greenfield Daily Reporter.

The troubling incidents reportedly took place at Bordenkircher’s residence in early October, according to a probable cause affidavit. One of the children disclosed to child advocates that Bordenkircher beat her with a belt, dragged her by the ankles, and forced her to stand in a corner until her legs went numb, all while berating her with derogatory comments such as “disappointment, dumb, and retarded.”

Another child recounted being pushed against a wall multiple times, grabbed by the neck, and threatened continuously by Bordenkircher.

A third child claimed that Bordenkircher threatened to “slaughter them in their sleep” if they didn’t “shut up,” allegedly brandishing a knife to intimidate them further.

The fourth victim said that Bordenkircher made the children stand in the corner for as long as six hours at a time and that the kids would sneak to the bathroom when their abuser left the house for a few minutes.

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.