MARION COUNTY, Indiana – On Tuesday, 46-year-old Jason Harrell appeared in shackles before Judge William Nelson in Marion County Superior Court, facing charges after an incident involving a teenage boy on a dirt bike. Harrell, who seemed to signal to his wife in the courtroom that he expected a swift release, was instead met with a starkly different outcome.
Harrell was charged with intimidation, a low-level felony, alongside two counts of misdemeanor battery after allegedly cursing at and physically assaulting a 14-year-old in his neighborhood. Initially, a $500 cash bond was set, typical for such charges. However, Deputy Prosecutor Christian Small argued for a “no bond” status or at least a bond of $2,000, drawing parallels to domestic violence case standards.
Confused by the proceedings, Harrell acknowledged he would need more time to decide on legal representation. Judge Nelson scheduled a pre-trial hearing for February 25 to address this and related motions. Hours later, the judge sided with the prosecutor, imposing a “no bond” order, a measure usually reserved for the most severe cases like murder.
Britney Schwitzke, the mother of the assaulted teen, expressed relief to CNN affiliate WXIN, stating, “In my opinion, he should have no bond. He assaulted a child and he’s a grown adult.” She highlighted a perceived disparity in legal treatment if the assailant had been a parent rather than a stranger.
Should Harrell be released, he would be subjected to a no-contact order with the boy and his family, and would also be under GPS monitoring. Schwitzke expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these measures, given Harrell’s proximity to their home and his alleged ongoing hostility.
Harrell’s background includes attendance at a bible college, and he runs a private plumbing business, details of which have been publicized on social media alongside the security footage of the assault. The community has rallied around the victim, with a “Justice for Jordan” motorcycle ride planned for February 2 from Ben Davis High School to support the young teen, who hopes Harrell would cease his bullying behavior.
The case has sparked significant online discourse, with some users sharing Harrell’s personal information, leading to privacy concerns for his family, according to Schwitzke.
This story continues to unfold as the legal process moves forward, highlighting issues of community safety, parental rights, and the impact of social media on legal proceedings.