Kiwi Man Ordered to Leave US After Attacking Boy in Doorbell Prank Incident
- A New Zealand man living in Utah has been ordered to self-deport after pleading guilty to attacking a 12-year-old boy who was “doorbell ditching” his Salt Lake City...
- The incident occurred on August 1, 2025, when a group of children at a sleepover engaged in the prank of ringing doorbells and running away.
- Bernstone pursued the children on a bicycle and allegedly grabbed one boy by the shirt, striking him multiple times in the face and punching him in the stomach.
A New Zealand man living in Utah has been ordered to self-deport after pleading guilty to attacking a 12-year-old boy who was “doorbell ditching” his Salt Lake City home. Tony Arnold Bernstone, 59, was sentenced to five days in jail and four years’ probation, according to reporting from 1News and the New Zealand Herald.
The incident occurred on August 1, 2025, when a group of children at a sleepover engaged in the prank of ringing doorbells and running away. The group targeted several homes, including Bernstone’s property.
Bernstone pursued the children on a bicycle and allegedly grabbed one boy by the shirt, striking him multiple times in the face and punching him in the stomach. Witnesses reportedly heard Bernstone threaten to “beat the s*** out of them,” according to court documents cited by 1News.
The boy contacted his father, who arranged a meeting with Bernstone at a nearby service station, where police were called. Bernstone initially admitted to pushing the child against a fence and slapping him while attempting to stop him from running away.
Bernstone pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of child kidnapping earlier this month. As part of his sentence, the judge ordered him to self-deport to New Zealand and prohibited him from returning to Utah during his four-year probation period.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Bernstone told authorities he had been dealing with neighborhood children engaging in the doorbell prank for years, but acknowledged that the group involved in the August 1st incident was not the usual perpetrators.
The New Zealand Herald reported that Bernstone was initially charged with felony child kidnapping in the first-degree and misdemeanor child abuse following his arrest in August 2025.
The incident highlights the potential for escalation when responding to seemingly harmless pranks. While doorbell ditching is a common childhood activity, Bernstone’s reaction resulted in criminal charges and his removal from the United States.