Justin Coddington (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)
A Gassville man arrested in late May on charges of kicking his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Monday and entered a not guilty plea.
Twenty-eight-year-old Justin James Coddington was jailed after Baxter County sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported domestic disturbance at an address along Sunchase Court in Gassville.
The victim, who identified Coddington as her boyfriend, said an argument had broken out between the couple about “fuel use.” She said during the argument, Coddington had called their children a profane name.
She told investigators she had asked Coddington not to speak about their children in that manner. The request is reported to have only served to fuel Coddington’s anger.
The victim said she was walking behind Coddington when he turned and pushed her. She said before she could regain her balance, Coddington kicked her in the stomach.
The victim appeared in court Monday to ask that a no-contact order be modified so she could visit Coddington in jail, or to allow her to talk to him by phone.
Judge Putman told the victim that based on allegations in the case, he would not approve visits to the jail but did agree to modify the order to allow the couple to talk by phone.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim is pregnant with Coddington’s child. They have other children together. She was taken to Baxter Health and was told the “only thing that saved the baby she is carrying from serious injury was at its early stage of development, the pelvic area had protected it.”
The victim was reported to have “visible bruising” on the lower portion of her stomach.
Coddington’s bond is set at $15,000.
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