WARSAW — A Warsaw man could possibly spend two and a half years behind bars for domestic violence unless granted entry into work release or community corrections, but will not have to serve time for allegedly punching his elementary school-aged child in the face.

Nathaniel James Hollett

Nathaniel James Hollett, 31, 752 East CR 300N, Warsaw, was sentenced to two years in county jail for domestic battery with a child under 16 present, a level 6 felony, and 180 days in the county jail for criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor. Multiple charges in both cases were dropped as part of a plea agreement, along with all the charges in a third case involving violence toward one of Hollett’s children.

According to police, officers responded to a report of someone cutting their wrist at a mobile home park on Anchorage Road on March 30, 2016. Police reported that they talked to Hollett’s wife, who reported that her husband choked her during an argument until she passed out. She said this incident happened while she was holding the couple’s young child. Police took photographs of red marks on the woman’s neck. The next morning, according to what the woman told police, the argument between the couple continued and Hollett, cut his wrist and left the house.

Several months later, police responded to the same residence and Hollett’s wife told police she had recently filed for divorce from Hollett and that the two lived in separate residences. She said Hollett entered her residence, grabbed her in a bear hug and started calling her names while holding a pocket knife in his hand. She reported that Hollett then showed her a noose and announced he was going to kill himself. He left the residence and headed to a wooded area. Before leaving, the woman said Hollett broke out two of her vehicle’s windows.

Less than a year later, Hollett was on the police’s radar again when, according to police and Child Protective Services, Hollett hit one of his children in the eye with a closed fist and then attempted to manipulate the child into telling authorities that the injury was the result of an accident. Hollett was arrested and charged with domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a person less than 14 years of age and interference with the reporting of a crime. Both of those charges were dropped as part of Hollett’s plea agreement.

At his sentencing hearing Monday, June 18, Prosecutor Brad Voelz told Superior Court One Judge David Cates that Hollett had set precedent in terms of felonious behavior. “He has a criminal history throughout his adulthood that includes violence, defiance and frankly, creepiness,” said Voelz. “He still has a pending case in Whitley County.”

The relationship between Hollett and his wife was described as poisonous by the dependent’s defense attorney, but David Kolbe made no apologies for his client.

“Let me make clear that Nathaniel is 100 percent responsible for injecting himself into a toxic relationship,” said Kolbe.

“I’ve been trying for a long time to break this relationship,” said Hollett. “I’m trying to get out of this. I want to find a job so I can take care of my kids.”

Hollett told the judge it was his wife who was trying to turn his kids against him and accused her of prompting the children to lie to him.

Cates told Hollett to listen to the advice given him by Kolbe regarding no future contact with his former wife.

“You have racked up 15 felony convictions,” Cates said. “You have a significant criminal history. Mr. Hollett, your attorney has given you some good advice — stay away.”

Cates gave Hollett one day of jail time credit and told the defendant that he would not object to Hollett serving his term on work release of community corrections, if he qualifies for either program.