Indiana man beat children, chained them to beds: Court docs

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WXIN) -- A Lafayette man is facing charges after allegedly beating children and chaining them to beds.

Ryan Alexander Hubertz Bass, 28, faces three counts of criminal confinement, one count of battery resulting in bodily injury to a person less than 14 years of age, and three counts of neglect of a dependent.

Police said one of the victims is younger than 8 years old, another is younger than 6 and a third is younger than 3.

Police were called to a home on Elwood Avenue in Lafayette on a report of battery on Jan. 21. The officer confirmed a child had bruising on the forehead, nose and under the eyes. The child's mother told police she didn't know how it happened, but knew Bass was the primary caretaker of the children in the home.

Officers saw a chain and padlock chained around a bedpost in a bedroom. Upon further inspection, they found another chain and padlock, along with a loaded handgun and large knife in plain view.

Police conducted an interview with the child, who said Bass hit him or her multiple times in the face and arms with his hand. Court documents allege Bass would chain the victim up, along with two other victims. Chains would be put around the neck, causing pain.

Officers found there were four children living at the home, but the three involved in this case were not his children.

One of the victims said the children would be told to lie on the floor and not move. If they disobeyed, they would be hit with a belt, according to court documents.