A Murray man is charged with assault and criminal mischief in connection with allegedly punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach so he could "get his baby out of her," according to 3rd District Court documents filed Tuesday.
The 20-year-old man began ripping his live-in girlfriend's clothes off to prevent her from leaving their apartment on the 500 West block of Murray Boulevard, charging documents state.
He began hitting her in the face and stomach and claimed he wanted to take his baby out of her. A police officer who responded to the residence reported the woman had redness and bruising on her ribs and face, court documents state.
The incident occurred on April 11, according to charging documents. Information on whether the unborn child suffered injuries during the assault was not available in court documents.
The man is charged with domestic violence assault, a class A misdemeanor and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.
The case is the second reported in recent weeks of a pregnant woman assaulted after a dispute with a boyfriend.
Prosecutors in Uintah County say a 17-year-old paid a 21-year-old $150 last month to beat her up in hopes the assault would kill her baby.
Arron Harrison, 21, allegedly brought the girl to his home near 1900 East and 2500 South in Naples around midnight on May 20. There he struck and bit her, leaving bruises on her belly and a bite mark on her neck, according to charging documents filed in 8th District Court.
Both the girl and Harrison confessed their scheme to police, and the baby survived the attack, according to the charges. Relatives of the girl have said she might have been acquainted with Harrison.
The girl told police she hired Harrison because her boyfriend threatened to break up with her if she didn't get rid of her baby.
Harrison, who is charged with second-degree felony attempted homicide, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 24 in Vernal.
The girl was charged in 8th District Juvenile Court with first-degree felony criminal solicitation to commit murder. She is scheduled to next appear in court on June 18.
