Teen Punches Girl in the Eye for Wanting to Pet His Puppy

A Menomonee Falls teenager is facing felony charges after he allegedly punched a 10-year-old girl because she wanted to pet his puppy.

Joseph E. Schneider, 17, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Monday with one count of physical abuse of a child. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

The victim told police she and two friends were hanging out Friday when they spotted Schneider holding a puppy in the courtyard of his residence in the W15100 block of Cleveland Avenue. Schneider told one of the victim’s friends she could pet the puppy, but when the victim asked, he didn’t respond.

The girl asked again if she could pet the puppy, but Schneider didn’t respond again, so the girl reached out and tried to pet the dog anyways from one to two feet away. Schneider then got upset and punched the girl in her left eye, causing her to fall down to the concrete.

The victim then used another person’s phone to call her mother, who then called Schneider’s mother, who told the woman her daughter can be “annoying,” which probably caused the situation to happen.

Schneider told police the girl wouldn’t leave him alone and it made him really mad so he punched her. He said he felt sorry immediately afterwards, knowing he’s 7 inches taller and 100 pounds heavier than she is.

Schneider then told police he fired off a confetti gun right next to the victim’s head two weeks before the incident, which made her hard of hearing for a couple of hours and he also felt sorry for that incident.

He’s currently being held in Waukesha County Jail on $500 bond.