Man charged with beating children, pregnant woman

DISCUSS

A man accused of beating his pregnant stepdaughter with a metal broom that broke and chasing her and children through the house faces multiple felony counts.

Thomas A. Shannon, of the 2900 block of Euclid Street, has been charged in Allen Superior Court with battery to a pregnant woman, a Class C felony; battery to a household member, a class D felony; battery to a juvenile under 14, a Class D felony; and neglect of dependent children with injury, a Class C felony.

The charges stem from an incident that happened July 15. According to an affidavit for probable cause, the following account allegedly occurred: At 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Shannon returned home and discovered it had not been cleaned to his standards. He told the children to clean up. The stepdaughter refused and said it was not her turn. Her stepfather then grabbed a metal broom and struck her across the right arm with it, causing the broom to break in two. The blow left a visible welt and bruise on the stepdaughter, who is four months pregnant. Four other children under the age of 16 were present at the time. They then locked Shannon out of the house, but he crawled back in through a window. The stepdaughter and children fled to an upstairs bathroom. Shannon kicked his stepdaughter in the leg, and then struck her right upper arm and head with a piece of broken broom handle. Shannon then went upstairs with his belt in his hand and kicked open the bathroom door. The children fled downstairs. Two ran out the door to get help but two remained with the stepdaughter. Shannon then struck one of them with the belt across the upper arm and thigh, leaving a visible bruise and welt. Shannon then left the house and the children locked him out again.

When later questioned by Fort Wayne Police, Shannon allegedly admitted he struck his stepdaughter with the broom and knew she was pregnant, according to court records. He said his stepdaughter struck him back with the broom and bit him when he would not let go of her. He said he was tired of the children not listening to him and the discipline got out of hand, according to the court records.