A northwest Marion County man pled not guilty Thursday to two counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury, a class D felony.

According to court documents, on or about November 17th, 36-year-old Travis John Coker used a Sharpstock livestock prod to shock two of his adopted minor children as a form of punishment. The Department of Human Services received statements from the children of inappropriate forms of punishment during a joint investigation with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Coker corroborated the victim’s statements.