Ward gets prison for beating up woman

FARMINGTON — A Jefferson County man was sentenced to seven years in prison for beating up a woman.

On Friday, Circuit Court Judge Sandy Martinez found that Donald D. Ward Jr., 41, of Arnold, had violated the probation he received for second-degree domestic assault. She sentenced him to seven years in prison.

According to court records, Ward assaulted a woman he was involved with on Oct. 5, 2007, by slamming her head into the door, dragging her by the hair and beating her in the face and head.

He has previous convictions for third-degree domestic assault. He currently has a third-degree domestic assault charge pending in Jefferson County. Ward, through a sign language interpreter, said he would be protesting an arrest that occurred in Jefferson County.

In other cases, Rodrigus D. Raspberry, 31, an ERDCC inmate, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for committing violence against a Corrections employee. According to court records, Raspberry assaulted three people including one employee who was struck in the head.

Mark Howell Jr., 22, of Bonne Terre, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for violating the probation he received for two counts of possession of controlled substance. The judge will release him on probation if he successfully completes a 120-day drug treatment program.

Betty J. DeClue, 43, of Park Hills, was sentenced to five years in prison for forgery.

Placed on five years of supervised probation were Steven E. McCloud, 46, of Farmington, for failure to pay child support; Jamie R. Forshee, 24, of Park Hills, for writing a bad check; and Clarissa G. Hafley, 52, of Park Hills, for writing a bad check.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.