Ind. Man Coerced NJ Child To Carve His Initials In Her Skin, Punch Herself: Officials

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — An Indiana man has been arrested after an investigation involving Morris County law enforcement found him to be abusing a child via social media, officials said.

Billy Joe Holman, aka “William Holman,” 26, of West Lebanon, Indiana, faces child abuse and stalking charges following an investigation by the Department of Justice.

According to officials, Holman had made contact with a minor, he knew to be 12 years old, via social media in October 2025. He systematically targeted her by “grooming, coercing, and otherwise compelling her to carry out his orders,” the Department of Justice said.

“Holman used coercive control, a pattern of behavior used to dominate another person through manipulation, including the weaponization of affection followed by verbal abuse or threats, to direct (the victim’s) actions,” authorities said.

For about a month, Holman ordered the girl to hurt herself, including but not limited to carving his initials into her skin and punching herself in the stomach on video, according to officials.

Holman also forced her to take photos of herself, which “constituted images of child sexual abuse materials,” and send them to him, authorities added.

Following a multi-faceted investigation, which included the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Dover Police Department, Holman was charged with cyber stalking and possession of child pornography.

If convicted, Holman faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.