Waukesha man facing six felony charges for child abuse after allegedly threatening sons with gun

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) – A Waukesha man is facing charges of child abuse, false imprisonment, and causing mental harm to his own children.

The five-page complaint lists the graphic details of abuse Benjamin Ekiss, 40, put his 11 and 12-year-old sons through at the end of July.

According to the criminal complaint, Ekiss locked his sons in their bedroom, beat them and threatened to shoot them. He accused them of stealing from a neighbor who they were dog sitting for. That neighbor confirmed with police those accusations were false and nothing was missing.

While their mother was away for Navy training, the boys were locked in their room for about 16 hours with no food, water, or access to a restroom.

They also told police Ekiss threatened to shoot them if they left their room, saying he would treat them as an intruder.

The complaint says the boys were hit with a wooden plank their father broke off their bed and broken blinds which left bruises on their bodies.

Ekiss admit to consuming at least half of bottle of Zzzquil and drinking.

“Both boys were extremely afraid of their father as a result of his wielding a gun in front of them, and threatening to shoot them as if they were intruders in their own home”, said a representative for the state during the court hearing.

Ekiss’ bond was set at $10,000 cash. He’s facing six felony charges.

He was also ordered to have no contact with his wife and his four children.