Portage Man Faces Charge After Child Injured in Alleged Assault
Richard Anthony Benda II, 24, of Portage, has been charged after allegedly injuring his 4-year-old daughter during a June 22, 2025, incident at their home.
According to court documents, Portage police were called to a residence in the 1200 block of Camelot Manor on June 24 for a report of a juvenile who had been battered. Officers observed visible bruising on the child’s face and transported her to a local hospital.
Investigators allege Benda threw a jumpy unicorn toy at the child, pushed her to the ground, and struck her in the face with an open hand. The injuries, which included bruising to the nose and both eyes, were still visible two days later.
Benda admitted to police that he hit the child with an open hand while she was standing on the top bunk. He stated, “I flew off the handle and smacked her twice,” and said he went too far and began to ice her face afterward.
Benda is currently lodged in the Porter County Jail.
Charge filed on June 26, 2025:
• Domestic Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Person Under 14, Level 5 Felony
