Justin Watkins
A Mountain Home man facing charges stemming from a violent domestic altercation allegedly involving a firearm appeared in Baxter County Monday.
Thirty-year-old Justin Watkins is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated assault, terroristic threatening and seven counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
VICTIM APPEARS IN COURT
The female victim in the case also appeared Monday to ask that Watkins’ bond be lowered and a no contact order lifted so they could be reunited. Deputy Public Defender James Wallace told the court that the woman made the requests because she “needed Watkins” help with the children.
According to Wallace, the household is made up of five children. Watkins is the father of two children; two children belong to the female victim and one child the couple has in common.
In the probable cause affidavit, it is reported that on the day of the incident, seven children came “piling out of the back door” of the house, located along Windbrook Street, when an officer arrived on scene. There are also seven counts of 3rd degree endangering the welfare of a minor filed against Watkins.
CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO BOND
A somewhat reluctant Circuit Judge John Putman lowered Watkins’ bond to $10,000 and lifted the no contact order. There were ten conditions attached to the bond, including that no guns were to be kept in the house.
Watkins was released from the Baxter County Detention Center about 11 p.m. Wednesday.
When he was initially booked into jail June 27, Watkins’ bond had been set at just over $25,000.
Watkins had asked for a bond reduction in an earlier court session but was turned down.
He has entered a not guilty plea to the charges.
THE INCIDENT
Mountain Home Police responded to the report of a domestic altercation in which a firearm was allegedly involved in late June.
They reported a man and woman — identified in the probable cause affidavit as the parents of children living in the residence – were involved in the disturbance.
The officer reported hearing yelling and screaming coming from the home. When he entered, he found Watkins and a 31-year-old female in a bedroom loudly arguing.
Some of the children reported Watkins had verbally threatened the woman and struck her as well.
At one point during the confrontation, Watkins is alleged to have loaded a firearm and pointed it at the woman.
When records were checked, Watkins was found to be a convicted felon and not allowed to be around firearms.
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