Woman wants no contact order against attacker lifted, judge says no

wireready_03-14-2019-09-30-02_08178_justinwilliamrogers

A woman alleged to have been attacked by her boyfriend was in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday to ask a no contact order be lifted so she and her attacker could reunite and “be a family,” but the judge said no.Twenty-four-year-old Justin Rogers of Mountain Home is charged with attacking the woman who was pregnant with his child.Circuit Judge Gordon Webb said last week he would not grant the woman’s request for a number of reasons. He said the actions and threats reported to have been made during the incident were “of a very severe type.”

He told the victim the court was concerned for her safety, as well as that of her children.

Judge Webb ruled the no contact order would remain in place until the case against Rogers is resolved.

Rogers’ arrest came after the victim approached a Baxter County deputy on routine patrol in the early morning hours of Oct. 3rd last year.

She said she and her children had been at Rogers’ residence when he is alleged to have become agitated and aggressive, shoving her against a wall at one point.

The victim said while she was packing in an attempt to leave the home, Rogers went into the kitchen and emerged carrying a large butcher’s knife. She reported Rogers started walking toward her saying “I’m going to kill it,” in reference to the couple’s unborn child.

The victim said she was able to grab Rogers’ hand and deflected the knife away from her body. She said she also “calmed him down.”

At one point during the incident, Rogers followed the victim into the bedroom of the house, grabbed her by the throat, punched her in the face and got on top of her, taking her cellphone away.

The victim said Rogers told her she was going to die, choking her until she passed out.

The woman said when she came to, Rogers attempted to apologize for his actions, but she told him she was leaving. She said initially Rogers prevented her from getting out of the bedroom. She said she waited until he was asleep, slipped out of the house with her children, saw the patrol car and reported the incident.

Rogers is set for trial later this year.

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