A Jonesboro man is behind bars following a violent attack on his Fulton County girlfriend that sent her to a Springfield hospital for surgery. Forty-year-old Zachery Lynn West is facing charges in two states, with three felony charges for the incident in Fulton County, including first degree domestic battery which is a class Y felony, the most serious crime in Arkansas not punishable by the death penalty. He also faces four felony charges in Howell County where part of the attack happened.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, the victim told investigators they have had an on-and-off relationship since May. The incident started Sept. 2 at the victim’s home in Viola when West showed up around 3:45 that morning. About 6:00 that morning, they went outside and victim says she got a phone call from a male and West started “freaking out.” During an altercation, West took the victim’s phone and smashed it in the driveway.
When the woman tried to get it back, West used his forearm to pin her neck against the wall to the point she could not breathe. He eventually let her go, took her phone and went to his vehicle.
Before leaving, West used his vehicle to ram the victim’s vehicle, causing $2,400 in damage.
The victim then followed West to a creek which is located in Howell County. While en route, West again ran into the victim’s vehicle.
She went to the driver’s side window and West pulled an AR-15 and struck her in the forehead and scalp with it, causing a severe laceration. The victim says she then heard a click like West pulled the trigger. She told investigators she believes if the gun would have been loaded, West would have killed her.
The victim says West then struck her in the back of the head with the gun, causing her to fall to the ground. He then struck her again, which broke her left jaw.
West then threw her phone in the creek.
The victim was taken to Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains and then transferred to Mercy Hospital in Springfield where she underwent surgery.
The Fulton County affidavit notes the bill from the Springfield hospital is over $39,000. She has not received a bill yet from the West Plains hospital.
West is charged in Fulton County with first degree domestic battery, aggravated assault on a family or household member and first degree criminal mischief. He also faces a penalty enhancement for committing a felony with a firearm. He is being held in the Fulton County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
In Howell County, West is facing felony charges of first degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and first degree property damage.
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