According to court records, Sam Switzer has been charged in Clay County with felony domestic battery of a person less than 14 years old.

The records also indicate that Switzer was not arrested but instead received a summons issued on June 20th. His initial hearing is scheduled for August 7th.

The Clay County prosecutor’s office could not be reached for comment, but a local lawyer advised that in the majority of cases similar to Switzer’s the subject is arrested, but depending on the circumstances there can be occasions where an arrest is unnecessary.

It was also reported, but unconfirmed, that Switzer is a Terre Haute Firefighter who had been with the department for four years, but has been placed on leave due to the charges pending against him.

A 2019 article in the Indianapolis Star reported that, at the time, Indiana had the second highest child abuse rate in the nation, and only Kentucky had rates that were higher.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Indiana’s child abuse rates were more than double the national average.

The article quotes an HHS study indicating, “there were 29,189 victims of child abuse in Indiana. That translates to a rate of 18.6 victims per 1,000 children. Meanwhile, the national average is 9.1 victims per 1,000 children.”

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence please reach out to the Wabash Valley CODA at 812-566-2632.