Jesse James Rhoads, 30, Portal, is accused of head-butting his girlfriend on Monday and breaking her nose and forcing her two children to drink alcohol with him. He is charged in district court in Burke County with Class C felony aggravated assault, Class A misdemeanor menacing, Class A misdemeanor reckless endangerment, Class A misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and Class A misdemeanor making a false report to law enforcement.

His girlfriend, Shawnee Carole Foss, 32, Portal, is accused of lying to police, permitting the children to drink alcohol, and of endangering them. She is charged in district court in Burke County with Class A misdemeanor providing false information to law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of minors, and Class A misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Rhoads had threatened to punish the children if they did not drink with him. Foss had also been drinking and knew the children had been drinking. She left the house to buy alcohol at a local bar because they were out of alcohol and she did not want Rhoads to beat her when he realized there was nothing left to drink. When Foss returned to the house, she saw Rhoads and her son drinking and became upset and confronted Rhoads. Rhoads head-butted her and broke her nose. Foss went upstairs to check on her son and Rhoads followed her and pushed her to the ground. She then went downstairs and sat on the couch next to the boy and Rhoads. Rhoads picked up a phone and smashed it into her face. Foss and her children left and got into a vehicle but she then realized she had forgotten the car key. Rhoads followed her outside and threatened to throw the bicycle at the windshield and smash it, which frightened the woman.

The two children had to be hospitalized for alcohol intoxication. Their mother was also taken to the hospital for treatment.