Drunk dad faces felony assault charge for strangulation of son (St. Peter, Minnesota)

According to police, dad KEITH ALLEN KESSELRING had "a strong odor of alcohol" when they were called to his home. Seems this "agitated" idiot was harrassing his son all night, then assaulted him when the boy had trouble getting up in the morning and going to school. Wonder where the mother is. Could this be a single dad?

http://www.stpeterherald.com/news.php?viewStory=2897

Suspect faces felony assault charge

Posted: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 11:23 pm

ST. PETER — A 49-year old North Mankato man faces multiple felony charges in Nicollet County District Court on allegations he assaulted a minor child during a May 7 incident at the man’s home.

Keith Allen Kesselring has been charged with felony counts of domestic assault (strangulation) and domestic assault as well as gross misdemeanor domestic assault and interfering with an emergency telephone call. The maximum penalty for the felony domestic assault charge is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine and three years in prison and a $5,000 for the strangulation charge. The maximum penalty for both gross misdemeanor charges is one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Bail was set for Kesselring at $15,000 with conditions, including having no contact with the victim. He is scheduled for a Rule 8 hearing on May 24.

Court records show on May 7, North Mankato Police received a report at 9:38 a.m. of a possible domestic assault taking place at a residence on the 100 block of Wheeler Avenue.

When officers arrived they met with Kesselring, who appeared very agitated. When he was asked what happened, he said his son would not go to school. The officers detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Kesselring while they were talking with him.

When they met with the victim the officers observed he had a bloody lip. He told police Kesselring had woken him up around 4:30 a.m. to talk to him about his friends before he eventually asleep again at around 6 a.m. At the time, the victim could tell his father had been drinking.

A half hour after the victim fell asleep, Kesselring allegedly came back in the room to wake him up for school, but the victim told him he was now too tired to go to school and an argument ensued. At some point the situation turned physical and Kesselring choked the boy by putting his hands around his neck. Also, at one point Kesselring allegedly elbowed the victim injuring his lip.