Norman County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Gary man is facing a misdemeanor assault charge after a criminal complaint was filed in Norman County District Court.
According to the complaint, Todd William Steinmetz is charged with fifth-degree assault. The charge alleges he inflicted, or tried to inflict, bodily harm on a child on September 10, 2024.
The case was filed in the Minnesota Judicial Branch for Norman County. The cited law is Minnesota Statute 609.224.
What The Complaint Says
The complaint says the child first spoke to a therapist that morning. The child reported that Steinmetz had hurt him earlier that day.
According to the filing, the child admitted he had been upset and kicked Steinmetz’s car. The complaint says Steinmetz then followed the child downstairs.
Prosecutors allege Steinmetz grabbed the child by the neck. The complaint also says he kicked the child twice and smacked him in the face.
The filing further claims Steinmetz threatened the child in front of the therapist. It also says he used an obscene gesture and profanity.
Later, the child took part in a forensic interview at the White Earth Child Advocacy Center. According to the complaint, the child said he was scared.
The child also said this was the only time he had been kicked. However, the complaint says the child reported that neck grabbing happened often.
Witness Account And Response
The complaint says Steinmetz’s wife was present at the home. The child said she would have seen the slap, according to the filing.
Court records say Steinmetz was later interviewed. The complaint says he told investigators he knew the report was coming.
According to the filing, Steinmetz said he had a broken leg and could not lift it. The complaint also says he admitted he was going to smack the child, but said the child moved.
Case Status
The charge is a misdemeanor. The listed maximum penalty is 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
As with all criminal cases, the charge is only an accusation. Guilt must be proven in court.
Readers can search for case updates through the Minnesota court records system.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
