TARENTUM, Pa.—Police say a western Pennsylvania woman and her boyfriend forced the woman's sons—a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old—to fight each other as the couple watched.

The boys tell officials their mom's boyfriend said the fights were training to toughen them up.
Thirty-year-old Joyce Sabotka and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Steven Meyer, of Tarentum, face a preliminary hearing Aug. 19 on child endangerment and simple assault charges.
They were arrested Thursday because police say the couple forced the fist fights at least 20 times. If the boys refused, police say they got smacked.
Police began investigating when the boys' natural father noticed bruises on them and had them treated at a hospital. Online court records don't list attorneys for the couple, who do not have a listed phone. SOURCE
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What is wrong with some people. Sounds like the BF was using the kids as entertainment.

People are sick!!!!!! I want to puke just thinking about this

I find it odd that people are so quick to judge. I hope you all have been keeping up on this issue because it turns out it was aplan hatched by the boys father to try and get the boys back and child support lowered. I think we should all be in arms that parents feel free to use thier kids as pawns and try to ruin inocent peoples lives.

nurseygirl, welcome to TalkPa. I have not kept up with the story but if you could site a source so that I can get up to speed on it I would be interested in the latest events and findings.

When I was of these ages you didn't have to force kids to fight, we just did.

I don't know if nurseygirl's comments on this immediate situation are valid or not (I couldn't find a source to corroborate), but I do agree with her comments conveying dismay that divorcing parents would use their children like pawns. Children are NOT property, they're people.

eh heh...heh