A local probationer was arrested on a felony battery charge Thursday morning after an alleged assault on his girlfriend less than a year after a previous battery conviction.
Hunter Cole Carkeet, 23, of 312 Main St., was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 10:30 a.m. and charged with third-degree domestic battery, classified as a felony punishable by up to six years in prison because of his prior conviction on the same charge. He also had a warrant for misdemeanor failure to appear.
Carkeet was being held on an $8,500 bond on Friday after a court appearance.
According to court records, Carkeet was convicted of a felony count of first-degree terroristic threatening on Aug. 2, 2021, after a trial in Garland County Circuit Court and sentenced to five years' probation. The charge stemmed from an incident on June 29, 2020, where he threatened several family members with a shotgun while intoxicated.
On June 23, 2022, he was convicted of misdemeanor counts of third-degree domestic battery and violation of a no-contact order in Hot Spring County and sentenced to one year of probation and fined $710.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, Hot Springs police Officer Alex Tobar responded to the area of 312 Main St. regarding a battery that had just occurred and made contact with a woman who alleged that her boyfriend, identified as Carkeet, had just assaulted her. She said they were in the bedroom of the residence when they got into an argument.
She said the altercation "turned physical" when she tried to leave the room and Carkeet grabbed her by her arm and neck. She stated Carkeet would not let her leave because she had the keys to the car.
Tobar noted the girlfriend had "a fresh cut" on her left forearm and redness around her neck which was consistent with her statement. He then made contact with Carkeet and took him into custody after discovering the warrant for his arrest.
After being read his rights, Carkeet reportedly admitted to being in a "physical altercation" with the victim because she had his car keys. He claimed he did not know how her injuries occurred.