TX - Paul Thames, 29, caught on doorbell camera beating toddler - Waco, 16 January 2026

[Clearsky]

Man savagely beats toddler in sickening attack caught on doorbell camera footage

Paul Thames, 29, surrendered to authorities and was charged with injury to a child, a third-degree felony, following the horrific incident at an apartment building in Waco, Tex., on Friday.

nypost.com

Paul Thames, 29, surrendered to authorities and was charged with injury to a child, a third-degree felony, following the horrific incident at an apartment building in Waco, Tex., on Friday, KWTX reported.

 

[airportwoman]

Wow. If he did that outdoors, what did he do to the child in private?

 

[LadyL]

that picture triggered me
I won't be watching the video
he better not ever have access to this kid again
and I would prefer he not ever have access to any child (or pet) again

 

[outback]

I have a bad feeling more people will end up arrested for abuse and neglect of this child.

Prayers for this child.

Jmo

 

[Niner]

I checked the court site - he is not in there yet. It is McLennan County, right?

 

[Rita7]

I checked the court site - he is not in there yet. It is McLennan County, right?

"Thames was booked into the McLennan County Jail..." It's from the article in the first post.

 

[Niner]

"Thames was booked into the McLennan County Jail..." It's from the article in the first post.

Strange - I can access the Court site, but not the jail site. I will check back in a few days to see if he is in there yet.

 

[Niner]

Oops - missed his first court date

Cause No� Filed Style Offense
Detail 26-700-AW 01/20/2026 THAMES , PAUL INJURY TO A CHILD


Criminal Record Detail: Cause Number: 26-700-AW
Cause Number 26-700-AW
Style 1 THE STATE OF TEXAS
Style 2 THAMES , PAUL
Filed Date 1/20/2026

Events
Event Date Event Desc
01/20/2026 26.700-1 INJURY TO A CHILD

link: Criminal Records

 

[Niner]

I will go ahead & post this to keep my records straight

Tuesday, January 20th:
*Hearing (@ am) – TX - *Boy (3) - beaten on video on Jan. 17, 2026 in Wacon. *Paul Thames (29) arrested & charged (1/17/26) with 3rd degree injury to a child. $200K bond. McLennan County
Case info: 1/17/26: Paul Thames has been arrested after sickening doorbell camera footage captured him savagely beating a 3-year-old boy — then demanding that the crying child “stop playing”. Thames, 29, surrendered to authorities & was charged with injury to a child, a third-degree felony, following the horrific incident at an apartment building in Waco, Tex., on Friday. Video captured on a doorbell camera shows a man picking up the toddler & striking him at least five times with a closed fist in the torso. Waco police Thames is the man seen in the disturbing clip. “Are you going to stop playing?” Thames tells the boy after pulling him up by the head & neck, before walking away with the child. The child was transported by ambulance to a local hospital & was evaluated by medical personnel & later released. Thames was booked into the McLennan County Jail, where his bond was set at $200,000. It wasn’t immediately clear what Thames’ relation was to the boy.
1/20/26 Update: Hearing to be held on 1/20/26.

 

[jr113]

This is my area. Apparently, he was in the military, stationed at Ft. Hood.

Man beat 3-year-old because boy didn’t want to work on his ABCs, warrant claims

A man who allegedly beat a 3-year-old boy told police he was disciplining the child but admitted to "going overboard," an arrest warrant says.

www.29news.com

 

[Niner]

Well - McLennan county court site is a lousy one. They still have him on 1/20/26. Nothing on what happened... And not finding any articles about the hearing. Anyone else? TIA if you do!

 

[Niner]

Looks like they refiled this case & I wish they would put "when" his arraignment hearing is, if it hasn't happened yet. Finding NOTHING in my searches - all one month ago.
Anyone reading here - finding anything on this guy?

Total Records found 2
Cause No� Filed Style Offense
Detail 2026-293-C1 02/05/2026 THAMES,PAUL ANTHONY INJURY TO A CHILD
Detail 26-700-AW 01/20/2026 THAMES , PAUL INJURY TO A CHILD

Criminal Record Detail: Cause Number: 2026-293-C1
Cause Number 2026-293-C1
Style 1 THE STATE OF TEXAS
Style 2 THAMES,PAUL ANTHONY
Filed Date 2/5/2026

Events
Event Date Event Desc
02/26/2026 STATES SUBPOENA RTN UNSVD – TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES 2-25-2026

02/25/2026 RETAINED COUNSEL
02/25/2026 STATE'S SUBPOENA APPLICATION
02/25/2026 STATE'S SUBPOENA APPLICATION
02/25/2026 STATE'S SUBPOENA APPLICATION
02/25/2026 STATES SUBPOENA RTN SVD – BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE - WACO 2-25-2026
02/25/2026 STATES SUBPOENA RTN SVD – AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE 2-25-2026

02/24/2026 LTR NOTIFYING OF ARRAIGNMENT DATE
02/24/2026 APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AND MOTION FOR REASONABLE BOND

02/23/2026 STATE'S SUBPOENA APPLICATION
02/23/2026 STATES SUBPOENA RTN SVD – TX DFPS 2-23-20026

02/19/2026 CONDITIONS OF BOND

02/18/2026 CONDITIONS OF BOND

02/17/2026 LTR NOTIFYING OF ARRAIGNMENT DATE

02/13/2026 PRECEPT RETURNED SERVED

02/11/2026 PRECEPT ISSUED TO SO

02/05/2026 INDICTMENT


link: Criminal Records

 

[bballmama]

omg. i really wish i hadn’t seen the video. not only does he punch the poor little guy in the belly at least 4 times, but he picks him up BY HIS FACE and his hand is covering the boy’s nose and mouth. absolutely heartbreaking and appalling - i’m glad that the little boy is now safe from this filthy monster