Man accused of attacking woman, child
Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Branson
BENTONVILLE - An arraignment was rescheduled Monday for a Rogers man accused of sexually assaulting a woman and injuring a 5-month-old baby.
Uriah Lyn Branson, 26, is charged with sexual assault in the second degree, a class B felony; domestic battering in the second degree, a class C felony; terroristic threatening, a class D felony; and indecent exposure, a class A misdemeanor. His arraignment was rescheduled for 8: 30 a.m. Sept. 8.
Branson was arrested July 9. He is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $ 75, 000 bond.
Rogers police responded to a 911 call at 8: 18 p.m. July 9 concerning a man trying to kill a 5-month old child. Police were told that a man was choking the infant, and blood was coming from the infant's mouth, according to an affidavit of probable cause in the case.
Rogers police officers Jose Dominguez and John Brashears arrived at the residence, where Branson answered the door completely nude, according to court documents. The officers were informed that the mother and her 5-month-old child were at a neighbor's home, the affidavit states.
The child was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. The child's mother told police Branson had sexually assaulted her, then threw her daughter on a mattress and shoved his fingers down the child's throat, according to court documents. The mother said Branson choked the girl for four or five minutes and claimed he had to kill the baby because God wanted him to, the affidavit states.
The mother was able to grab her daughter and retreat to a bathroom before she fled the apartment, the affidavit states.
A mental evaluation found Branson does not have a mental disease or defect. The evaluation determined that Branson, at the time of the examination, had the capacity to assist effectively in his own defense.
Branson was diagnosed with cannabis abuse and withdrawal from drugs used to treat anxiety.
The class B felony is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years; the class C from three to 10 years; the class D up to six years; and the class A misdemeanor up to a year in jail.
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