Evaluation ordered in strangulation case

Tuesday morning in Hot Springs District Court, a mental evaluation was ordered for Aaron Bissonette, who is charged with felonies including two counts of strangulation of a household member, aggravated assault and battery and second-degree sexual assault, along with misdemeanors of domestic battery and possession of marijuana.

Though initially scheduled for a change of plea Tuesday, a mental evaluation was requested for Bissonette by his attorney Richard Hopkinson as he was concerned his client might have some mental health issues that would prevent him from helping counsel in trying the case.

Hot Springs County Attorney Jerry Williams added there have been plea deals in the case before, though Bissonette has always backed out the day after the deals are made. Additionally, Williams said, Bissonette has tried to put up several defenses, such as demanding the IRS be subpoenaed, and stating his wife is an illegal immigrant and the wrong officers are handling investigations.

A competency examination was ordered for Bissonette within the next 30 days.

According to court documents, on April 10 an officer was dispatched to a family fight. Upon arriving, the officer met with the female victim in the incident, who said Bissonette had hurt her. She further explained Bissonette had been drinking, and he had strangled her and dragged her around the residence by her neck. At one point, the victim said, Bissonette sat on top of her and put his knee in her side, then grabbed her head and slammed it into the floor while threatening to kill her.

After getting off her, the victim said Bissonette was shouting, talking to himself, stomping and hitting the walls and furniture, while continuing to threaten her. She ran out and called the police, and reported to the officer that she saw stars while her head was being slammed into the floor and was having trouble swallowing.

During an investigation at the residence, the victim said she believed her head bounced three times off the floor, and later, while she was on a sofa, Bissonette again put his knee in her side and his hand around her throat, making it difficult to breathe, though she was able to eventually get his hand off her. The victim also reported an April 8 incident during which Bissonette molested her.

During the investigation at the residence, the officer located a substance which tested presumptive positive for marijuana.

Also in District Court, Daniel L. Ford pleaded guilty to felony counts of wrongful taking or disposing of property and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, as well as two misdemeanor counts of use of a controlled substance, second or subsequent offense.

The felony charges stem from an April 24 incident, during which items including a four-wheeler, leaf blower and gas cans — all known to be stolen — were located in a garage at Ford’s residence. On April 27, a urine analysis on Ford indicated he was under the influence of marijuana and methamphetamine, which led to the two misdemeanors.

Williams pointed out on Tuesday that Ford had two priors of use of a controlled substance — one in 2007, the other in 2008.

In exchange for his plea, Ford would receive a prison sentence of 3-5 years, though that would be deferred for four years of supervised probation on each of the five counts, each served concurrently to the others. Ford also had his bond modified to a $10,000 signature bond.

A not guilty plea was entered in a case against William Forrest, to allow him the opportunity to obtain and confer with public counsel.

Forrest is charged with a felony charge of strangulation of a household member, stemming from a June 13, 2016 incident during which he and a female subject got into a fight.

Officers responding to the incident noted a bite mark on Forrest’s arm from the victim, though further investigation revealed she had bit his arm after he wrapped it around her throat, in an effort to make him let go.