A Bellefontaine man has been indicted, charged with assaulting a senior family member multiple times over the course of a month.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Joshua Allen Artis, 39, of 1297 Township Road 190 E., charging him with one count of domestic violence.
ARTIS
According to court documents, on Feb. 13, Marysville Police got a phone call from Artis’ relative, who reported that she had been assaulted by her son, Joshua Artis.
When police arrived, the woman was in the lobby of her independent living apartment building at 201 Professional Parkway.
According to police reports, the woman told police Artis had, “kicked her in her privates, well as held her down and choked her.”
Officers noted the woman was in obvious pain.
Police found Artis upstairs at the woman’s home. According to police statements, he, “claimed that nothing had happened between him and (the woman).”
Domestic violence is typically charged as a misdemeanor. Once an individual has a conviction for the offense, however, future allegations are charged as felonies.
In January, Artis pleaded no contest and was found guilty of domestic violence.
On Jan. 2, police were called to the Professional Parkway apartment on a call of a dispute. When police arrived, they found the woman, who “appeared visibly upset and advised that… Joshua Artis was in her apartment, intoxicated and was threatening her.”
The victim said that at one point, Artis got a knife and threatened to kill her for killing his brother.
He also allegedly grabbed the woman’s hair and tried to light it on fire with a lighter.
According to the officers, the woman said she was, “in fear for her life and believed that Joshua Artis would cause her physical harm.”
In January, Artis was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $250, however, 25 of the days, $100 of the fine and the court costs were suspended.
If convicted in the February incident, Artis could face as many as 18 months in prison. He is set to be arraigned March 31.