Mt. Pine man sentenced to three years in prison on battery charge

Travis Richard Davenport - Submitted photo
Travis Richard Davenport - Submitted photo

A Mountain Pine man arrested last year after fracturing his nephew's skull during a fight over his nephew's girlfriend was sentenced to three years in prison last week after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.

Travis Richard Davenport, 37, who lists a McCurtain Street address, was set to stand trial Aug. 23 on a felony charge of second-degree battery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, but opted to plead guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years with seven years suspended, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $715 in court costs and fees.

Davenport is also permanently barred from any contact with the victim, Dyllan Moore, 20, who was reportedly also going to be charged with second-degree battery for injuries sustained by Davenport, according to the original arrest affidavit, but there is no record of the charge being filed in circuit court.

According to the affidavit, on July 12, 2020, shortly before 8 p.m., Garland County sheriff's Deputy Devyn Helms responded to Davenport's McCurtain Street residence regarding a domestic disturbance and found Moore in the street out front with blood coming from his head.

Moore stated he and his uncle, identified as Davenport, got into an argument over Moore's girlfriend involving a pair of boxers. Moore said Davenport attempted to hit his girlfriend, so he stepped between them and punched Davenport in the face multiple times.

A male witness, 43, stated Moore hit Davenport with a glass jar of olives. The witness separated the two men and Davenport left the residence and went to a nearby shed. Davenport retrieved a wooden stick, went back in the house and began hitting Moore in the head with the stick until the witness was able to separate them again.

Helms spoke to Davenport, who was sitting in a chair in the yard, and he said he wanted charges against Moore. He said Moore "attacked him," but admitted to calling Moore's girlfriend by an expletive. Davenport showed Helms the stick he had used to hit Moore and at that point Davenport was taken into custody.

Photos of the injuries to Davenport's mouth, nose and left foot were taken along with photos of the injuries to Moore's head. The witness stated the fight began in the kitchen and moved to the living room and that Davenport hit Moore in the head with the stick in the bedroom.

Davenport refused to complete a victim statement form. Moore was transported by LifeNet to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where it was determined he had a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, so he was admitted.

Davenport was taken to the Garland County Detention Center where he was checked by a nurse who determined his nose was broken so he was also transported to CHI for treatment and later returned to jail.

He pleaded not guilty to the battery charge in circuit court on Oct. 15 and was released on a $3,500 bond on April 30. He reportedly failed to appear for a hearing on June 8 so a warrant was issued and he was arrested on June 23 and has remained in custody since then.

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