If you drive about 130 miles northwest of Chattanooga, you will find yourself in Wilson County. A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper who lives there with his wife was recently arrested on a charge of aggravated domestic assault.
The trooper was booked into the county jail and has an initial court appearance scheduled for early February of next year.
According to a media report, the officer’s wife reported that she came home and found him inebriated. She said that when she tried to take a bottle of vodka from him, he began to beat her with a weapon known as a slapjack (also referring to as a blackjack or sap).
According to the news report, she told responding officers that the assault took place “in front of her young child.”
Officers filed a report stating that the trooper’s wife had bumps on the back of her head, as well as scratches and cuts on her neck, head and ear.
Punishments for domestic violence convictions can be harsh. The trooper would undoubtedly lose his career if convicted because offenders are permanently barred from ever carrying a firearm.
Punishments for a Class A assault conviction can mean up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A Class B misdemeanor assault conviction can mean up to six months behind bars and a fine of up to $500.
Aggravated assault can be a Class C felony that results in from three to 15 years in prison, with a fine of up to $10,000, while a Cass D felony conviction is punishable by two to 12 years behind bars and a fine of up to $5,000.
