The Union County Grand Jury has indicted two men, each with a pair of prior convictions, for domestic violence.
Jeffrey D. Riffle and Brent Taylor Herriot have each been charged with one count of third-degree felony domestic violence for unrelated events.
Domestic violence is typically charged as a misdemeanor on a first offense. After an individual has been convicted, additional allegations are charged as felonies.
Riffle has a pair of prior domestic violence convictions, one in 2006 and another in 2016. Herriott was convicted of domestic violence in 2010 and again in 2013.
“Domestic violence is a situation that tends to repeat itself and even escalate unless there is some sort of intervention,” Union County prosecutor Dave Phillips said.
He said domestic violence is often “about power and control.”
“The risk to the victim and to others becomes higher as this goes on,” he said. “That’s why the legislature has determined that future allegations need to be felonies.”
He added, “we obviously take any allegation of domestic violence very seriously, but we have to take repeat offenders very seriously given the risk of harm they do pose.”
Riffle, 36, of 13 E. Bomford St., Richwood, and Herriot, 288 Redwood Dr., Marysville, each could face as many as five years in prison.
“The injuries in these cases were relatively minor, but because of the prior convictions, they were charged as felonies,” Phillips said,
According to court documents, on Nov. 27, Riffle and the mother of his children were arguing and the argument turned physical.
Phillips said Riffle threw some items and pinched the woman. He said the injuries were “not significant” but there were bruises on the woman. He added that Riffle “made some threats.”
Phillips said Herriott and his live-in girlfriend were doing dishes on Dec. 19, when they began arguing.
“He threatened to slam a plate of food into her face,” Phillips said.
Herriott then allegedly threw a can of soda at the woman who “jumped out of the way” Phillips said.
“He allegedly stabbed her in the abdomen with a fork,” Phillips said.
The prosecutor said that while the fork did not cause major injuries, there was the potential for serious physical harm at that point.
Both men are set to be arraigned later this month.