(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An Indiana man accused of punching a mentally challenged student nearly five years ago is back in court.
Lloyd Clifton, 54 of Michigan City was a classroom assistant at Pine Elementary School in 2019 when Porter County police were called after a boy reportedly said he was was punched in the stomach by Clifton. The victim reported difficulty breathing and falling to the ground after the incident.
The teacher said Clifton shoved and "chest bumped" the boy and then raised his fist toward the child and said, "I'll beat you and your daddy," according to a court document.
This happened after the boy had refused to take part in an activity on the day in question and began swatting at and trying to grab Clifton, according to the teacher.
Now, The Northwest Indiana Times reports that Clifton pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of battery causing injury to a disabled person, and had his 180-day jail sentence suspended, in which records showed he had only served 1 day.
However, the newspaper also reports that Clifton did plead guilty to the lesser misdemeanor count of intimidation in exchange for probation, in which he's prohibited from contacting the victim.
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