Jonathan Ybarra of Midway made a first appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday and entered a not guilty plea to charges stemming from a physical altercation with his pregnant ex-wife earlier this month.
Ybarra made an attempt to enter a guilty plea, but was cautioned not to take that action until he had at least had time to speak with an attorney.
The 24-year-old Ybarra is charged with second-degree domestic battery, endangering the welfare of a minor and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
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 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 Department incident report, Ybarra kicked the door 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 reported that after hitting her with the phone, Ybarra left the residence in the woman’s vehicle. She reported that while the couple was divorced, she and Ybarra had been attempting to “work things out” and that she was currently pregnant.
The ex-wife was taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center for treatment and a relative came to take the couple’s infant 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 officers that he knew he “messed up”. He said that his ex-wife is “controlling” and that he was “tired of it”. Ybarra said he left the residence in his ex-wife’s vehicle, but parked it and began walking.
He is currently an inmate in the Baxter County jail with bond set at $10,000.
Ybarra also faces several charges related to two separate incidents in which he exposed himself to a female shopper and an 11-year-old girl at a local grocery store where he worked. According to investigative records, he also admitted to putting lewd notes into the mailbox of a female neighbor.
In the earlier cases, Ybarra was examined to determine if he was fit to proceed. During an appearance by Ybarra on December 8th, it was announced that he had been found fit to proceed and the defense made no objection to the finding. According to court records, he is currently scheduled for a jury trial on the earlier charges during the week of February 27th.
The state filed a motion to revoke his bond in the original cases after the charges related to his altercation with his ex-wife were filed.
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