Former Cave City Football Coach Pleads Guilty to Terroristic Threatening Charges

A former Cave City football coach has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his estranged wife in an incident that forced a Batesville medical office to shut down temporarily last year.

Dillon Ray Sallas, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree terroristic threatening in Independence County Circuit Court. Circuit Court Judge Tim Weaver sentenced Sallas to nine months of probation and ordered him to have no contact with the victim for at least one year.

According to court documents, the victim contacted the Batesville Police Department on March 27, 2025, reporting that Sallas had been making threats to shoot her.

Investigators said the victim received a text message from Sallas stating, “You’ll see me later today. You got exactly what you got coming.”

An affidavit filed by Detective Brenda Bittle stated that Sallas’ mother also contacted the victim and warned her to stay inside and lock her doors after Sallas allegedly called and said he intended to shoot his ex-wife.

The affidavit also stated Sallas sent a message to his mother saying he was going to kill the victim and later left a voicemail message threatening consequences.

Following the threats, hospital security was called to the victim’s workplace on Hospital Circle in Batesville. According to investigators, the medical office closed after its final patient appointment that day as a precaution.

Authorities said the victim had filed for divorce on June 3, 2024, and was in the process of seeking an order of protection at the time of the incident.

Police arrested Sallas later that day and booked him into the Independence County Jail at 2:32 p.m. He was released about 20 minutes later after posting a $2,500 bond.

Sallas previously served as a football coach in the Cave City School District.