New year's branding hot iron

Jasper man allowed others to brand his chest during a New Year's Eve party in the Beaver Lake area of rural Jasper.

The video shows the young man, approximately 18 years old, lying on a table, with people at his shoulder holding him down as he tells someone standing above him ‘Go!' before they apply a branding iron to his left pectoral muscle.

While the person receiving the brand has not been identified, those involved in the incident called 9-1-1 for medical assistance. Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter said deputies initially responded to the scene to investigate the incident.

Carter Hopf (18, Jasper) was arrested for the incident that evening, our deputy contacted a deputy prosecutor that night,” said the sheriff. “They determined (Hopf) would be arrested for battery resulting bodily injury and later he was charged for illegal consumption of alcohol,” the sheriff explained.

Once the weekend came around, the prosecutor spoke to the victim and they are not willing to file charges,” said the sheriff. “He made comments numerous times of how he wanted it to happen, how he had purchased the brand himself. Further discussion with Prosecutor (Beth) Sermersheim at the time determined it's not an illegal act. He wanted it and there will be no charges filed.”

The sheriff said a call was made for medical assistance at the scene that evening and “by statute, that allows individuals, as long as they don't flee from the scene, they can't be charged with minor consumption of alcohol, because they were seeking help.”