Indiana Man Arrested After Allegedly Trying to Force Bar of Soap Into 7-Year-Old Boy’s Mouth Over a Curse Word

An Indiana man is facing a felony charge after allegedly trying to force a bar of soap into a 7-year-old boy’s mouth because the child used a curse word. What was supposed to be a punishment for using inappropriate language reportedly turned into a physical struggle inside an SUV, leaving the young boy with a bleeding injury to his forehead. Investigators say the man had used the same form of punishment on the child before.

Daniel Schergen, 34, was arrested on October 23, 2026, in connection with the alleged incident in LaPorte County, Indiana. According to court documents, the incident occurred on August 29 while Schergen was traveling in an SUV with his girlfriend, the boy and three other children. After one of the children was dropped off at football practice, the 7-year-old reportedly said a curse word that another person in the vehicle described as particularly bad.

Rather than addressing the child’s language through a conversation or another form of discipline, Schergen allegedly instructed his girlfriend to pull over at a convenience store in Kingsbury and purchase a bar of soap. When she returned to the vehicle, he reportedly took the soap, pinned the boy’s head against the back of the car seat and attempted to force the bar into his mouth. The child resisted by keeping his mouth tightly closed. During the struggle, Schergen allegedly struck the boy in the forehead, while the child fought back by hitting and kicking him.

The aftermath reportedly left the child crying and screaming, with a bloody oval-shaped mark on his forehead. According to investigators, Schergen’s girlfriend returned to the convenience store to purchase alcohol wipes and bandages to clean and cover the injury. Police also learned that this was not the first time the boy had allegedly been subjected to this punishment. Court documents indicate that Schergen had managed to put soap into the child’s mouth on at least one previous occasion.

The investigation began in September after the Indiana Department of Child Services reported suspected physical abuse to local law enforcement. Investigators reviewed photographs provided by the child’s mother, which allegedly showed redness on the boy’s forehead and bruising on his face following the incident. When questioned, Schergen reportedly told investigators that the child struggled with controlling his temper and had been suspended from school for hitting other children. He also said he had been trying to move away from traditional punishments such as spanking and instead use timeouts and conversations, although he admitted those approaches were not always effective.

LaPorte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan emphasized that while parents have the right to discipline their children, that authority has legal limits. Schergen has been charged with Level 6 felony domestic battery against a child under 14. He was released from the LaPorte County Jail on October 28 after posting $750 bond. If convicted, he could face between six and 30 months in prison. The case is now moving through the court system, while the allegations serve as a reminder that discipline can cross into criminal conduct when it causes physical harm to a child.