Indianapolis, Indiana — A 28-year-old former special education teacher is facing nine battery counts after prosecutors accused him of repeatedly mistreating young students with disabilities at an elementary school in Indianapolis. Court documents describe allegations that include tripping a 5-year-old child, dragging a student along a hallway floor and confining children inside a classroom closet as punishment.
Hunter Sesemann was indicted by a Marion County grand jury in connection with alleged incidents involving three children who were 5 or 6 years old at the time. Attorneys representing the families have also announced plans to pursue civil lawsuits against Sesemann and potentially school officials.
The allegations concern incidents reported at Washington Irving Neighborhood School 14, where the children were enrolled in kindergarten.
Indiana Teacher Faces Nine Battery Counts
According to court records, Sesemann faces three counts each of battery, battery against a person younger than 14, and battery against a person with a disability.
The indictment follows allegations of a pattern of misconduct involving young students who depended on school staff for support and supervision.
Court documents described the alleged conduct as a “pattern of abuse and misconduct,” according to reporting by a local news outlet.
The criminal charges remain allegations, and the case must proceed through the legal system before guilt can be established.
Court Documents Describe Alleged Incident Involving 5-Year-Old
A tort claim notice reportedly describes an incident on September 29, 2025, in which Sesemann allegedly extended his leg into the path of a 5-year-old boy, causing the child to fall hard onto the floor.
According to reports, the filing alleges that Sesemann laughed as the child fell, then grabbed him by the ankle and dragged him along the hallway floor.
The notice also describes another alleged incident on October 4, 2025, involving a hair tie. Sesemann allegedly snapped the tie repeatedly against the top of the boy’s head.
When a registered behavior technician intervened, Sesemann allegedly snapped the hair tie against her hand and said, “Then I will do it to you, you f—ing loser.”
These details come from allegations outlined in legal filings and have not been established as proven facts in court.
Children Allegedly Confined Inside Classroom Closet
The legal filings also describe an incident in which Sesemann allegedly picked up a student, dropped the child onto the floor and then placed the child inside a classroom closet.
According to the civil claim, the closet was allegedly used on several occasions as a “disciplinary measure” to confine students. Another alleged incident occurred on October 6, 2025, when Sesemann reportedly pushed a boy hard enough to make him fall.
The filings also describe a separate incident involving another student who allegedly dislocated his elbow after falling while walking beside Sesemann. A colleague reportedly later described the teacher’s behavior as “aggressive.”
The allegations have raised questions about how the children were supervised and whether concerns about their treatment were addressed appropriately.
Attorneys Say Families Deserve Answers
Attorneys Tammy Meyer and Catherine Michael, who represent the victims, have raised concerns about the alleged treatment of the children and the responsibilities of the adults entrusted with their care.
“The allegations in the indictment are deeply troubling because they involve young children with disabilities who depended on the adults in their classroom to keep them safe,” Meyer said.
She added that parents send their children to school trusting educators to protect them, particularly when children may have difficulty communicating what is happening to them.
Michael said the criminal charges were an important step toward accountability but did not resolve broader questions about the children’s treatment or whether those responsible for their safety took appropriate action.
The attorneys said the families want to understand what happened inside the school, what officials knew and whether the alleged harm could have been prevented.
What Indianapolis Public Schools and St. Matthew Catholic School Said
Indianapolis Public Schools said Sesemann worked for the district from July 17, 2023, through November 14, 2025.
A district spokesperson said Sesemann was removed from the classroom after officials learned of allegations involving students. The district also notified Indianapolis Public Schools police and the Indiana Department of Child Services.
The district declined to comment further, citing potential litigation and student privacy.
At the time the indictment became public, Sesemann was also working in a student-support role at St. Matthew Catholic School. The school said it placed him on administrative leave after learning of the charges.
The school also stated that all required background checks had been completed before Sesemann was hired. It was not immediately clear when Sesemann was scheduled to appear in court.
Investigation Raises Questions About Student Safety
The case involves allegations concerning particularly young children with disabilities, making questions about supervision, reporting procedures and school accountability central to the families’ concerns.
The planned civil claims could bring additional scrutiny to the events described in the filings and the steps taken by school officials after concerns emerged.
For now, the criminal case remains pending, and the allegations against Sesemann have not been proven in court.
What steps do you believe schools should take to protect children with disabilities and respond when allegations of classroom abuse emerge? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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