A Mountain Home father and son were taken into custody Thursday night after what deputies described as a drunken family brawl that left the mother pushed to the floor and the son injured.
Deputies were called to the home on Promise Land Road just before 10, where they found 44-year-old Donnie McFarland visibly intoxicated. Donnie told deputies he had been out celebrating his birthday and returned to find his 20-year-old son, Jakob McFarland, drinking from the family liquor cabinet. He said he repeatedly told Jakob to leave before striking him in the face.
Jakob admitted to drinking while his parents were out and told deputies the argument escalated after a dispute involving the family dog. He said Donnie pushed the mother down before punching him. Jakob had redness on his face and a cut on his hand from glass in a broken door. EMTs evaluated him and cleared him on scene. The mother confirmed she was pushed during the incident.
Both were transported to the Baxter County Detention Center. Donnie was charged with two counts of third-degree domestic battery and was issued no-contact orders protecting the mother and Jakob. Jakob was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor.
The incident adds to a troubled history between the two. In September 2023, Jakob was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member after deputies say he retrieved a loaded 30-30 rifle during an argument with his father, pointed it at him, and threatened, “I’ll kill you,” according to a probable-cause affidavit. Deputies said Jakob fled with the gun, later contacted law enforcement, and turned himself in.
Those charges were ultimately dropped after the father requested the case be dismissed.
Authorities have not indicated whether Thursday night’s incident will impact any remaining conditions tied to that earlier case. Both are free on bond and scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 29.
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