Jonathan Ybarra of Midway entered a no contest plea to charges against him during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
The 24-year-old Ybarra faced charges in two cases — one which involved allegations that he exposed himself to a female shopper and an 11-year-old-girl at a local grocery where he worked.
Then, in early January, Ybarra was arrested on charges stemming from a physical altercation involving his pregnant ex-wife.
According to court records, a Baxter County Deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence along Highway 178 in Midway shortly before noon January 7th. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Ybarra and his ex-wife became involved in an argument and she threatened to call the police. It is alleged that Ybarra then became increasingly angry, pushed his 23-year-old ex-wife to the floor and punched her in the face causing noticeable swelling to her right eye along with a laceration under her right eyebrow.
The ex-wife said Ybarra also choked her. She told a Baxter County Deputy Sheriff that she was able to get away from Ybarra and locked herself in a room where she was able to make a call for help.
According to a Sheriff’s Office incident report, Ybarra kicked the door to the room open, took the phone from his ex-wife and hit her in the mouth with it, causing a split lip and knocking a tooth loose.
The ex-wife was taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center for treatment and a relative came to take the couple’s young son who had been in a playpen when the incident took place.
The Deputy Sheriff made contact with Ybarra as he walked in the vicinity of a service station in Midway. Ybarra is alleged to have told the officers that he knew he “messed up”. He said that his ex-wife tended to be “controlling” and that he was “tired of it”.
Since the incident in January, it has been reported to the court several times that Ybarra and his ex-wife are in counseling in an attempt to repair their marriage. Ybarra’s ex-wife was in the courtroom Thursday and 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge said she agreed with the sentence being handed down against Ybarra. The victim in the grocery store incident and her guardian were also agreeable to the outcome, the prosecutor reported to the court.
As part of his probation, Ybarra will undergo psycho-sexual treatment. In handing down the sentence, Judge Gordon Webb strongly advised Ybarra to take advantage of the treatment “since it is apparent that you have problems controlling your behavior”. Judge Webb said if Ybarra ever committed offenses of this nature in the future, it was highly likely he would be sentenced to prison. “You are very lucky that you aren’t going to prison this time,” Judge Webb said.
Ybarra will have to register as a sex offender.
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