A local man was arrested Saturday night after allegedly assaulting his live-in pregnant girlfriend, including punching her in the stomach while yelling "I hope the baby dies."
Ricky Lynn Baldwin III, 20, of 108 Hickory St., Apt. V, was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 8:30 p.m. and charged with a felony count of third-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to six years in prison. Normally a misdemeanor, the battery charge is upgraded to a felony if the person knows the victim is pregnant.
Baldwin was initially held on zero bond, but had bonded out as of Monday and is set to appear Nov. 20 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, at around 8:20 p.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police Officer Brian Branstetter responded to an apartment on Hickory Street regarding an alleged battery that had occurred at the apartment at 108 Hickory St. and made contact with a woman, 20, who stated she had been beaten by her boyfriend of 11 months, identified as Baldwin.
She stated she and Baldwin were in bed when they got in an argument about the two of them breaking up. She said Baldwin had her phone and would not give it back to her. After several failed attempts to get it back, the phone was dropped on the floor.
She said Baldwin was pushing her in the face so she bit his fingers, leaving a small laceration to his middle finger and thumb knuckle. She said Baldwin had her in a chokehold to prevent her from getting her phone, but she finally broke free and grabbed the phone, holding it to her chest.
At one point, Baldwin allegedly punched the woman in the lower left side of her back and then as she tried to leave he punched her in the stomach and yelled, "I hope the baby dies."
The woman told police she was four months pregnant with Baldwin's baby. Baldwin was located at his apartment and taken into custody without incident.
Baldwin was previously arrested May 30, 2018, on a misdemeanor charge of third-degree battery involving a juvenile victim. He was released that same day on $1,000 bond and pleaded not guilty on June 12 in district court with a trial set for Aug. 2.
On Aug. 2, Baldwin appeared before Judge Ralph Ohm and asked for a continuance which was granted with the trial postponed until Jan. 24, 2019. Ohm ordered Baldwin to attend anger management classes with the understanding if he provided proof he attended the classes and had no problems and no new charges, the battery count would be withdrawn.
Local on 11/14/2018