A reportedly homeless man arrested numerous times this year for assaulting his pregnant ex-girlfriend despite no-contact orders pleaded guilty to a felony battery charge Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Jay Daniels English, 23, who has remained in custody since his last arrest Aug. 20, pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to six years in prison, and was sentenced to six years' probation, fined $1,500, ordered to pay $540 in court costs and again ordered to have no contact with the victim.
English was initially charged with second-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, at the time of his arrest Feb. 21, but the charge was later amended to third-degree domestic battery before being filed in circuit court.
English had previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 28 to a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault, involving the same victim, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all but four days suspended, and placed on six months' probation. A court order barring him from contact with the victim had been issued at that hearing and was issued again Feb. 22 and he was later released on $10,000 bond.
English was arrested again on Aug. 20 while out on bond for allegedly assaulting the same victim again and trying to suffocate her with a pillow. He was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault on a family or household member, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor charges of violating the no-contact order, first-degree criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.
He is set to appear Oct. 14 in Garland County District Court for a review hearing to determine if the felony charge will be bound over to circuit court. His bond on the most recent charges is $50,000 and he remained in custody Tuesday.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the battery he pleaded guilty to Monday, shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, Garland County sheriff's Deputy Devyn Helms responded to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs regarding a battery that had occurred earlier in the parking lot of Chicken Express, 3019 Albert Pike.
He spoke to the victim, 18, who had been admitted to the emergency room. She stated she went to see her boyfriend, identified as English, at his place of work at Chicken Express around 6 p.m. She said they went into the parking lot and got into an argument and English "head-butted" her in the face.
The deputy noted she had bruising to her nose, a cut between her eyes, and redness around her nose, eyes, and forehead. While Helms was photographing her injuries, the victim told him the fighting between her and English had been continuous over multiple days.
She showed Helms other earlier injuries, including bruising to her left thigh, bruising on the inside and outside of her upper right arm, small bruises on the right side of her neck, a knot on the right side of her head, bruising to her right breast, and to her stomach and back.
The victim also stated she was seven to eight weeks pregnant and English was aware of her pregnancy. She told Helms English would still be at work until about 9:30 p.m. Helms, Sgt. Greg Kellar and Cpl. Robbie Swinney went to the business where they located English and took him into custody without incident.
English stated he was aware the victim was pregnant and "he didn't want to get her in trouble for violation of the court order." Helms obtained security video of the parking lot, but the affidavit notes "the incident did not happen in camera view."
Local on 09/25/2019