A local man was arrested late Thursday after allegedly attacking his pregnant girlfriend during an argument with her and her ex-boyfriend.
Emmitt Lee Currin III, 22, who lists an Alcorn Street address, was taken into custody shortly after 10 p.m. in the 100 block of Shady Way and charged with a felony count of second-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Currin pleaded not guilty to the charge Friday in Garland County District Court with a felony review hearing set for Dec. 20. He was released Saturday afternoon on a $5,000 bond.
According to court records, Currin lists no prior felony history, but pleaded guilty on Feb. 8 to a misdemeanor charge of third-degree domestic battery and was sentenced to five days in jail and six months' probation. The victim in that incident was not the same as Thursday's alleged victim.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 10 p.m., Garland County sheriff's Deputy Gavan Mason was dispatched to a residence on Shady Way about a disturbance in progress.
He made contact with a man standing outside the apartment who said there was another man "currently beating a female" inside the residence. Mason noted he could hear screaming from inside but could not determine what was being said.
After he knocked on the door, a woman opened it and "ran out" and Mason made entry and found Currin inside and detained him.
He spoke to the woman, 21, who stated Currin was her boyfriend and he had attacked her during an argument. She alleged he punched her outside the apartment and then pushed her against the wall multiple times after they went back inside.
Mason then spoke to the first man, 19, who stated he saw Currin punch the woman and then he and Currin got into a fight in the parking lot.
Mason then spoke to Currin, who stated he had been invited over by his girlfriend, but ended up getting in an argument with her and the other man who he claimed had started the fight.
Currin also noted that his girlfriend was pregnant with his child. The girlfriend confirmed she was six months pregnant with Currin's child, but she also has a child together with the other man.
Mason noted it was "apparent she was pregnant when she adjusted her oversized hoodie." He also noted she had a visible injury "in the form of slight bruising" on the left side of her neck and redness around her neck.
At that point, Currin was taken into custody without incident and transported to the jail.