A registered sex offender has been arrested after allegedly poking a child with an unknown object, leaving the victim with a minor puncture wound. William Rothel, 40, was taken into custody following the incident in Anderson, Indiana, on July 9, 2026.
Incident Details
According to preliminary information, Rothel approached a shopping trolley containing a six-year-old girl and poked her with an unknown object. Anderson Police responded to reports of possible child battery at approximately 9:15 am. Officers found the girl, who required medical attention and alleged Rothel had stabbed her.
The Anderson Fire Department treated the child for an injury to her right leg. She was later transported to a nearby hospital for further care. Rothel was seen leaving the area after the incident.
Arrest and Evidence
Witnesses identified Rothel's vehicle, leading police to locate and arrest him. He was booked into the Madison County Jail. A probable cause affidavit, obtained by the Madison County Bulletin, stated that police found ammunition and unused insulin needles in Rothel's car.
Criminal History
Rothel has a prior conviction for a violent attack on a child. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to charges involving an eight-year-old victim at a Payless Supermarket in Anderson. He held the child in a chokehold and used a screwdriver as a weapon. After pleading guilty in May 2017, Rothel was sentenced to 12 years in prison, two years of home detention, and two years of probation.
Due to this conviction for kidnapping and criminal confinement of a child, Rothel is required to register as a sex offender in Madison County. The Herald-Bulletin reports that Rothel was arrested and charged with bodily injury, residential entry, and failure to register as a sex offender on July 9.
