A Marysville man has been indicted after allegedly punching and biting his girlfriend in front of their child.
Robert Joseph Arnold, 29, of 838 Watermill Place. Arnold is charged with one count each of domestic violence, endangering children and vandalism.
According to court documents, on April 4, Marysville Police were called to the intersection of Milford Avenue and Route 4, for an active domestic situation.
When officers arrived, they found the vehicle near Milford Avenue and Watermill Place. The vehicle pulled into the driveway at 838 Watermill Place.
At that point a woman got out of the car and ran toward police officers.
According to court documents, the woman “had blood on her face, hands and her clothing.”
“(The victim) was yelling at the officer for help and stating that her baby was still in the car,” according to court documents.
The woman said she and Arnold had been looking at homes together and began to argue over his driving. She said that while the pair were driving, the argument turned physical.
According to court documents, Arnold punched the woman multiple times in the face then bit her repeatedly. She said she and Arnold have a 16-month-old child together and the child was still in the car. The woman said the child was in the car the whole time of the alleged assault.
The victim told police “she was in fear for her and her child’s safety.”
A witness told investigators that she could see Arnold hitting the woman multiple times as they were traveling on U.S. 33 West.
Arnold allegedly damaged the woman’s vehicle by punching the dash screen for the radio until it cracked.
“There was also blood on the passenger side window, center dash, steering wheel and drivers side dashboard,” according to court documents. “Robert stated that he was positive for Hepatitis C.”
If convicted, Arnold could face as many as three years in prison.
Typically, domestic violence is charged as a misdemeanor. However, once an individual has been convicted of domestic violence, or certain other similar charges, future allegations are charged as felonies. In 2013, Arnold was convicted of criminal mischief for an offense of violence against a family member.
Also indicted was:
– Justin Thyme Starcher, 20, of Columbus. Starcher is charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count each of strangulation and attempt to commit an offense.
According to court documents, on March 1, Marysville Police responded to 207 Windsor Ct., Apt. 101 on a report a dispute and possible sexual assault.
When police arrived, they spoke with Starcher and the victim. Starcher informed the officers that he had gone to the victim’s home earlier that evening to “hang out as friends.” According to the indictment, the victim is “a mental incompetent.”
At some point during the evening, Starcher asked the victim if he could perform certain sexual related activities with her. According to court documents, Starcher even offered to pay the woman if she would let him perform the acts.
Eventually the woman went to her bedroom to go to bed. According to court documents, when the woman woke, Starcher was allegedly in her room, “preparing” to perform the acts he had offered earlier.
She began fighting with Starcher who was allegedly holding the woman down. As the fight continued, the woman “bit Mr. Starcher in order to get free of him.”
Starcher actually is the one that called 911 because he had been bit.
If convicted on all counts, Starcher could face as many as 35 years in prison.
– Amanda Aziza Ratcliffe, 36, of Cleveland. Ratcliffe is charged with one count of assault. According to court documents, on Feb. 3, Ratcliffe was an inmate at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. At some point she allegedly hurt or tried to hurt a prison employee.
If convicted, Ratcliffe could face as many as five years in prison on the new charge, in addition to any prison time she must serve on the original charge.