The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
During a domestic dispute between a couple in West Virginia, the woman allegedly shattered a fishtank, killed a pet gecko with the garbage disposal, and assaulted her boyfriend.
On January 24, a 19-year-old woman and her boyfriend who reside together at the Hickory Mills Apartments in Hurricane went out together. They reportedly made a tentative agreement that they would have a sexual encounter when they returned home.
According to reports, when the couple got to their apartment, the plan fell apart. They began to argue, and the fight reportedly escalated. The woman allegedly began throwing and breaking things, including the fish tank.
Someone notified the authorities, and officers from the Hurricane Police Department went to the residence. They spoke to the man and the woman separately. When the officers reportedly saw a bloody mark on the man’s arm, he alleged that his girlfriend had struck him with a shower curtain rod.
It was reported that the woman copped to striking her boyfriend, throwing things around the room, and breaking the fish tank. She also allegedly informed the police that she took their pet gecko and ground it in the garbage disposal.
The woman was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of one count of animal cruelty, and one count of domestic battery. She was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond but has since been released. If she is convicted of the animal cruelty charge, she could spend between 1 and 5 years in jail in addition to being ordered to pay up to a $5,000 fine. The domestic battery charge holds a penalty of up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $500.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a domestic violence offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.