Cameron Don Beliles

WARSAW — A Claypool man will serve three years in prison pending his approval for work release after battering a child and woman.

Cameron Don Beliles, 24, 206 E. Section St., Claypool, was charged with domestic battery with bodily injury to a person under the age of 14, a level 5 felony; and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, a level 6 felony. Five other charges involving domestic battery were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Beliles was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 on Thursday, April 16.

On Dec. 5, 2019, a woman went to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office to report a domestic battery. The woman told a KCSO officer that Beliles had battered a child who typically stays with her and Beliles weekly for visitation.

According to court documents, on Dec. 4, 2019, the woman said Beliles was intoxicated and pushed her against a wall. Three children were in the residence at the time and could have been able to hear or see the incident. On Dec. 5, the woman noticed bruising on one of the children’s faces. She spoke with Beliles about the bruising and he admitted he caused the bruising on the child’s face.

Officers with the Claypool Police Department and Silver Lake Police Department made contact with Beliles at his residence. During an interview with officers, Beliles said he “tapped” the child on the mouth while attempting to get the child to go to sleep and that he believed the ring he was wearing caused a cut on the child’s lip.

Beliles was previously convicted of domestic battery in November 2017.

During court proceedings, the woman involved in this case spoke on behalf of Beliles. In her testimony, she cited a miscarriage as the reason for Beliles’ substance abuse.

“I know he screwed up bad, but I know this is not who he is,” said the woman. “I’ve known him for five years and we lost a child together. We want to see him get better and get sober. We understand he needs to pay his time, but we really want to see him get better.”

In his statement to Judge David Cates, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz mentioned Beliles’ history of domestic violence.

“What she (the woman) needed in a difficult time was love and support,” said Voelz. “And that was not what she got.”

Defense Attorney Austin Rovenstine said Beliles is extremely remorseful for his actions and that he struggles with alcoholism. Beliles was also in the process of applying to the Serenity House program; however, the application was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The tears he’s shed today I have seen throughout my time with him,” said Rovenstine.

Rovenstine also requested the no-contact order established between Beliles and the victims in this case be terminated.

For domestic battery with bodily injury to a person under the age of 14, Cates sentenced Beliles to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction. In regards to domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, Beliles received a one-year DoC sentence that was suspended on probation. Both counts will be served consecutively. This battery case will also be served consecutively to a misdemeanor criminal case.

Cates said he had no objection to Beliles serving the executed portion of his sentence through Kosciusko County’s work release program if he is qualified and remains qualified. He also said he would reconsider terminating the no-contact order if Beliles successfully completes substance abuse and anger management classes at the Bowen Center.