A 13-year-old student is contesting a misdemeanor assault charge after an incident during a high school gym class in December 2025 that left a classmate with significant bruising, according to interviews and public reporting. The boy, his mother and their attorney say he did not mean to harm anyone and that they were surprised to learn of the criminal charge months after the event.
Family says incident was a routine warm-up
The family, which spoke about the case on a national television segment this week, says the altercation occurred during a gym class warm-up where students were tossing foam dodgeballs at random classmates. The boy, identified in reporting as Abel Schipper, told hosts he and two friends were among several students throwing balls and said they did not intend to target or injure anyone.
"It's just dodgeball," Abel said when asked about the situation, according to the family's appearance on the program.
His mother, Cecily Schipper, told the program the girl who sustained the bruises went to the emergency room only to have the injury evaluated and was not admitted to the hospital. She said the family did not learn of criminal proceedings until March — roughly three months after the December incident — when a letter arrived notifying them of the assault charge.
School discipline and timing of the charge
The family says the school did not discipline the boy in the wake of the episode. Cecily said the girl who was injured even asked her for a ride home several weeks after the game, a point the family cites as evidence the school considered the matter resolved.
Authorities have charged the boy with misdemeanor assault, alleging the victim was repeatedly hit and later sought medical attention for large bruises. The student and his family deny intentionally targeting or harming the classmate and say they did not compress the foam balls to make them harder, as has been suggested in some reporting.
Legal representation and court appearances
The family has been assigned a public defender. Cecily Schipper told the television program the attorney had not yet sat down with them to hear Abel's account. The boy described his initial court appearance in July as "nerve-wracking" and said he was shaking badly.
According to public reporting, the case stems from an incident at Mayer High School in December 2025; the boy is scheduled to return to court on Monday. No additional hearing date or details about potential penalties have been released publicly.
Questions for schools and families
The case raises broader questions for parents and school officials about when school incidents should be handled internally and when they should prompt criminal charges. Family members say the lack of school discipline and the delay in notification about the charge contributed to their surprise and apprehension.
- Incident: Warm-up dodgeball game during gym class, December 2025.
- Individuals involved: A 13-year-old boy charged with misdemeanor assault and a female classmate who later received medical evaluation for bruising.
- Current status: Boy due back in court Monday; family represented by a public defender.
School officials have not publicly released a statement detailing any internal disciplinary actions. The family has characterized the school response as minimal and says they were not notified of the charge until months after the incident.
Local impact and what to watch
Cases that involve students and criminal charges often prompt scrutiny of school policies, law enforcement practices and how communities support conflict resolution among youth. Observers will likely watch whether the school provides records or statements about its handling of the December incident and whether the county attorney's office offers additional details on the basis for the misdemeanor charge.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident date | December 2025 |
| School | Mayer High School |
| Charge | Misdemeanor assault |
| Next court date | Monday (per reporting) |
The family has expressed concern about the emotional toll court proceedings are taking on the boy. They say he is worried and nervous about appearing before a judge. The public defender assigned to the case has not been publicly quoted about the family's assertions that he had not yet met with them at the time of the television interview.
As the case progresses, local reporters will seek comment from school administrators, the county attorney's office and the victim's representatives to provide a full account of the circumstances and the rationale for any criminal charge stemming from a school athletic activity.
Gabriela Montoya is the state correspondent covering education and public safety for WE NEWS.
