Newberry Coach Charged with Child Abuse After Track Meet Fight

NEWBERRY ‒ A Newberry woman who also served as an assistant track coach has been charged with child abuse and other offenses after police say she instigated a fight among students during a high school track meet earlier this year.

Melissa Danielle Nattiel, 42, was charged with two counts of child abuse, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and disorderly conduct following an incident on March 3 at Newberry High School, according to court records.

A police report states that Nattiel was present at the meet in her role as both a parent and assistant coach for Newberry’s track and field team. Officers said a fight had broken out involving her son, members of the Newberry team, and two students from another school. By the time Nattiel arrived, officers reported that tensions had subsided.

Instead of calming the situation, Nattiel “reignited the confrontation and escalated the situation by encouraging the two victims to fight her son,” an officer wrote.

She allegedly approached the two students aggressively, telling them, “You are going to fight my son,” and instructed her son to “go punch that kid,” according to the report. Witnesses told police that Nattiel shoved both victims, and one of them pushed her back in self-defense.

The confrontation quickly escalated, with students from Newberry, Gainesville and Eastside High schools reportedly joining the brawl.

After reviewing the incident, prosecutors filed formal charges against Nattiel on July 1. A warrant for her arrest was issued on July 11, and she was taken into custody on Aug. 2. She was later released on $40,000 bail.

Court records indicate that Nattiel has no prior criminal convictions. The case remains pending.

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