A Starkville man was arrested by deputies after being accused of striking his wife with a baseball bat and holding her against her will.
According to court documents obtained by the Starkville Daily News, 42-year-old Christopher Shannon Blackwell is facing one charge of domestic aggravated assault after being accused of striking his wife with a baseball bat, hitting her in the ankle, knee and face.
Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Lt. Brett Watson said the victim was treated for her injuries at OCH Regional Medical Center, but did not require hospitalization.
The incident occurred on or around April 11. Watson said the dispute was domestic in nature. Blackwell also faces one charge of kidnapping. He is accused of confining his wife to the residence located in the 200 block of Serenity Lake Road by threatening her with a gun.
The court documents also claim Blackwell forcibly took the victim’s cell phone and would not let her make calls except as dictated or monitored by him.
Blackwell was released from the Oktibbeha County Jail shortly after his arrest. His bond was set at $50,000.
If found guilty of the assault charge, Blackwell could face up to 20 years in prison. Kidnapping in Mississippi carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.
Blackwell’s next scheduled court date is May 22 in Oktibbeha County Justice Court.