Updated

A 68-year-old North Dakota man is accused of shouting profanities and throwing rocks at a group of children in retaliation for being hit with a snowball before pushing a 9-year-old boy into a truck and smashing his face into the ground, according to a report.

Douglas resident Gordon Van Hassel, 68, is charged with felony aggravated assault of a victim under the age of 12, the Grand Forks Herald reported Monday.

Gordon Van Hassell is accused of sending a 9-year-old boy to the hospital for supposedly throwing a snowball at him.

Gordon Van Hassell is accused of sending a 9-year-old boy to the hospital for supposedly throwing a snowball at him. (Ward County Jail ​​​​​​​)

According to the charges, Van Hassel was walking his dog by a group of children having a snowball fight when he was apparently hit.

Van Hassel later claimed the kids were harassing him, so he chased them, catching the 9-year-old who he allegedly pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked, KFYR-TV reported.

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The boy later told authorities he was afraid for his life and passed out during the attack, according to the affidavit. An adult reportedly carried the boy home by sled before he was taken to a hospital in Minot.

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The assault left him in pain and unable to walk on his left leg, according to a Ward County Sheriff’s deputy.

Van Hassel was being held at the Ward County jail. He was scheduled to appear in court for arraignment Thursday. He faces up to 10 years in prison if he’s convicted.