Kevin R. Jasani, 32, of Oak Drive, was charged in Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division with two counts of first degree aggravated domestic assault, one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment, and one misdemeanor charge of cruelty to a child under 10.

He was released on conditions that he seek treatment through the Veterans Administration, and not leave treatment early. He must also notify the court 24 hours after his treatment is completed.

According to an affidavit by Trooper Lauren Ronan, of the Vermont State Police, on June 29 at 8:48 p.m., Michelle Webster, of the Department of Children and Families, told police she had spoken to a psychologist from the VA who said a 14-year-old boy had disclosed to him that Jasani had grabbed the boy's 5-year-old brother around the neck. Another child, age 10, had also reported that Jasani had fired a BB gun at two children under his care.

Ronan said she went to Jasani's home with Trooper Travis Hess and Webster. She said they spoke to the boy who told the doctor about the neck holding. The boy said it happened on June 25 or 26, and that he was on the couch watching television when his brother began "rough-housing" with his stepsister. He said Jasani picked his brother up, holding him by the neck and leg, set him on the couch, and held him there for about two minutes. He said a few days earlier he and his siblings were outside playing when Jasani fired a BB gun in their direction, scaring them. They said they told their mother, who told Jasani to stop.

The boy who allegedly was held by the neck told the same story, saying it made it hard for him to breathe and it hurt. Ronan wrote that there were no marks on the boy's neck or leg.

Another child also told police about both incidents, adding that Jasani becomes angry easily and she tried to calm him down when he does.

The mother told police that she did not witness either incident, but did tell Jasani to stop after the children told her about the BB gun. She said that since Jasani came back from a military d eployment overseas, he has become increasingly angry.

Jasani told police he did shoot a BB gun near the children, but did so as a joke. He said he plays with them by picking them up by the leg and neck, and denied strangling any of them.

Contact Keith Whitcomb Jr. at kwhitcomb@benningtonbanner.co m or follow him on Twitter@KWhitcombjr