A local man was arrested on a felony battery charge Saturday for allegedly causing injuries to his 61-year-old mother who has a no-contact order against him, claiming she threatened to hit his son.
Justin Wade Duggan, 40, who lists an address of 493 Walkway Drive, was taken into custody at the residence shortly before 2 p.m. and charged with second-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of violation of a no-contact order, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Duggan, who lists no prior felony history, was being held on zero bond and is set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court. He previously pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of third-degree domestic battery and violation of a no-contact order involving the same victim on Oct. 28, 2021, and was sentenced to 120 days in jail. He was convicted on June 18, 2020, of endangering the welfare of a minor and sentenced to 60 days in jail, all suspended.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Garland County sheriff's Cpl. Matthew Cogburn responded to the Walkway Drive residence regarding a battery in progress.
He saw a Toyota Camry coming down the driveway. Deputy Candice Presley was out with the alleged victim and her grandson and told Cogburn the driver of the Camry was the suspect in the battery, identified as Duggan, so he stopped the car and had Duggan step out.
Duggan reportedly stated, "Please let me go, I didn't do anything wrong. I just grabbed her arm because she said she was going to hit my kid. I know I'm going to jail because she has a no-contact order against me."
Cogburn confirmed there was an active no-contact order issued with Duggan's mother, 61, as the protected party so he asked him who he was fighting with. Duggan reportedly admitted he was fighting with his mother, again stating, "She said she was gonna hit my kid."
The victim reportedly had several injuries to her left arm and right leg that were both bleeding. Cogburn took Duggan into custody at that point and went to talk to the victim.
Duggan's mother said he came out of his room yelling at her because he thought she said she was going to hit his kids. She said he continued yelling at her and then hit in the face with a fly swatter, kicked her in the right leg and "clawed" her left arm. Cogburn noted the injuries to the victim's arm and leg were consistent with her statement.
A computer check revealed Duggan's prior battery conviction last year involving his mother which combined with the victim's age classified the battery as a felony. While en route to the jail, Duggan reportedly stated, "Man, what would you do if someone said that? I only grabbed her arm to tell her she wasn't going to hit my kid."