Photo: Justin Bryce, aka Justin Ewalt
A Mountain Home man accused of threatening to hit a roommate with an axe and cutting him with a knife appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Tuesday and entered a guilty plea to charges stemming from the incident.
Thirty-one-year-old Justin Bryce – also known as Justin Ewalt – was given four years probation on charges of aggravated assault and third degree battery.
Ewalt-Bryce was arrested after a Mountain Home Police officer responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence along Hillcrest Drive just before midnight Aug. 6.
The officer reported he could see someone beating on a door to an upstairs room with a wooden club and heard a female screaming. Because it appeared someone might have already been injured, or be in immediate danger, the officer entered the residence through an unlocked door.
Ewalt-Bryce was identified as the person beating on the door. He was ordered to drop the club he was using and come down the stairs with his hands up. He complied and was taken into custody.
After Bryce was in handcuffs, the officer checked on a male and female, who also lived in the apartment. They said Ewalt-Bryce had been drinking heavily and “got out of control.”
The male roommate said Ewalt-Bryce had threatened him with an axe and had also cut him across the stomach with a knife.
When the officer arrived, the couple said Ewalt-Bryce was attempting to break down their bedroom door to “attack” them.
Deputy Public Defender Sam Pasthing had requested the court allow the plea to be taken under provisions of Act 346, meaning if Ewalt-Bryce stayed out of trouble during his probation, he could apply to the court to have his record sealed.
It was found, however, state law won’t allow an Act 346 plea when a person is charged with aggravated assault.
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