West Virginia man is indicted for torture

After refusing to testify against her husband, then, allegedly, on the verge of losing her son to preserve the best interests of the child, a grand jury has indicted a West Virginia man accused of torturing his wife.

A Jackson County grand jury imposed the indictment, charging the defendant with unlawful wounding. Court records show he is due to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Testimony reveals that in July of 2012, the defendant's wife fled while they were at a Parkersburg equipment rental company. After seeking refuge in a domestic violence shelter, the wife claimed her husband had locked her up and beat her for years, according to a worker at the shelter. However, court records reveal the defendant's wife testified to the contrary, saying her husband never beat her, claiming, as well, that the accounts of abuse were false.

Additionally, in a recent article published in The Charleston Gazette, the defendant's wife accused authorities of threatening to take custody of the couple's two-year-old son if she did not testify against her husband. This led to the wife fleeing with the child, until she was later arrested in Jackson County and charged with felony child concealment. After one month in incarceration, the defendant and wife agreed to give permanent custody of their son to the wife's parents.

Although initially charged for malicious wounding, the defendant was not indicted due, in part, to his wife's denial of the allegations in court.

Domestic abuse can in many cases be directly linked to divorce. Just as important is the role abuse takes in child custody battles. Your divorce attorney needs to be informed of any spousal abuse to protect proper custodial needs and ensure that the best interests of your children are safeguarded.

Source:  thenewscenter.tv, "Jackson County, WV man accused of torturing wife indicted" Todd Baucher, Jun. 27, 2013