Domestic battery charge changed to felonyA domestic battery charge against a Warsaw man was changed from a misdemeanor to felony because he has a prior conviction.
Jeffery A. Stump, 48, of 812 E. Clark St., Warsaw, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 6:54 p.m. Sept. 20 for domestic battery.
Court documents filed Monday list the charge against him as domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, but it was enhanced to a level 6 felony as Stump has a prior conviction. He was convicted of domestic battery in Elkhart County on Nov. 1, 2010.
On Sept. 20, Warsaw Police officer Jacob Metzger was dispatched to Stump’s address in reference to a domestic battery. Upon arrival, Metzger made contact with a male relative of Stump’s who said that he and Stump were involved in a verbal altercation. During the argument, Stump pulled the male relative’s shoulders in a “rude manner,” according to court documents. Stump then hit the male relative on the back and face, causing him pain.
Metzger then spoke with a woman who said she saw Stump and the male relative have an argument during which Stump hit the male relative multiple times.
Metzger reported Stump had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. A portable breath test showed Stump had a blood alcohol content of 0.249. He was arrested and taken to the county jail.
His initial hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday and a no contact order also was entered Monday.
