MAYER, AZ. (THECOUNT) — Abel Schipper, 13, is facing a misdemeanor assault charge after authorities said he and two other students repeatedly threw dodgeballs at his former girlfriend during a physical education class at Mayer High School in Yavapai County, Arizona.
The incident occurred in December 2025 during a school dodgeball game. According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, a social worker contacted authorities two days later and reported that three boys had “relentlessly assaulted” the girl with dodgeballs after she emerged from a bathroom before warmups.
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Mayer is an unincorporated community in central Arizona’s Yavapai County, approximately 20 miles south of Prescott and about 90 miles north of Phoenix. The community is home to Mayer High School, where the incident occurred.
According to AZFamily, Schipper acknowledged that he and two friends threw foam dodgeballs toward the girl. He said he struck her, one of his friends missed and another friend also hit her.
Schipper also acknowledged that the group targeted the girl “a little bit,” but disputed the suggestion that the incident was malicious. He told the outlet that targeting players is part of dodgeball and said he did not believe the smaller foam balls would cause significant injury because they could be compressed.
The girl was subsequently taken to a hospital. Photographs provided by her mother reportedly showed two large blue and purple bruises on the girl’s rib cage and abdomen.
Authorities became involved after the social worker reported the incident to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. The circumstances surrounding the investigation led to Schipper being charged with misdemeanor assault.
Schipper’s mother told AZFamily that she believes the criminal charge is excessive. She said the school did not discipline her son over the incident and that she was unaware a sheriff’s deputy had interviewed him until months later, when the family received a letter informing them that he had been charged.
His mother also disputed the characterization of the incident, telling the outlet that the girl continued communicating with her son afterward and asked him for rides home. She said she could understand the school addressing the incident through disciplinary measures but does not believe it should have resulted in a criminal case.
The case involves allegations arising from an activity that occurred during a school physical education class. Schipper has acknowledged throwing a dodgeball at the girl but disputes the characterization of his actions and the allegation that he intended to cause serious harm.
Schipper is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Because the defendant is 13, the case involves a juvenile rather than an adult criminal proceeding, and additional details may be limited by laws governing juvenile court records.
The assault allegation remains a matter for the court. Schipper is presumed innocent unless and until the allegation is proven.
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