Gregory Haendiges (Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office).
A man in Indiana, 29, is looking at spending several years in prison for assaulting his girlfriend’s 1-year-old son when the child accidentally spilled water. He threatened to treat the toddler like an “animal.”
In Delaware County, a jury only took around 20 minutes to decide that Gregory E. Haendiges was guilty of committing one felony count of battery on a child under 14 years old.
According to Indiana state law, this particular felony is categorized as a level six offense, carrying a possible sentence of up to 30 months in an Indiana state correctional facility, along with a fine of up to $10,000.
According to a news release from the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident took place in late November 2021 involving a victim who had autism and was nonverbal.
During the trial, prosecutors presented jurors with evidence showing that Haendiges “rubbed” his girlfriend’s 6-month-old child’s “nose and forehead into the carpet” in the spot where the toddler had “accidentally spilled water.” The attack resulted in the child suffering a “bloody wound” to his forehead, prosecutors said.
“The evidence also indicated that at the time of the crime, Haendiges knew the young child was autistic and non-verbal,” prosecutors wrote in the release. “Nevertheless, Haendiges told the child, ‘[I]f you are going to act like an animal, I’ll treat you like one.”
After the verdict was announced, Judge Andrew J. Ramirez of Circuit Court No. 2 ordered Haendiges to be remanded to the custody of the Delaware County Jail. He is currently scheduled to return to court for his sentencing hearing on April 14.
Following the proceedings, Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Hoffman praised his team for their efforts in convicting Haendiges.
“I am proud of Deputy Prosecutor Lexi Starost, Prosecutor’s Investigator Danielle Woodson and Muncie Police Detective Kristopher Swanson for their hard work and dedication in this case,” he said.
Court records reviewed by Law&Crime show that Haendiges in October 2024, signed an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to one count of felony intimidation. However, the deal was not accepted by Judge Kimberly Dowling.
“The Court, after having considered the evidence as presented, rejects said guilty plea and written plea agreement,” the online docket entry states. “The Defendant’s plea of guilty is hereby withdrawn.”
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