Joplin man bound over on felony domestic assault charges

May 9—A judge has ordered a 43-year-old Joplin man bound over for trial on domestic assault and resisting arrest charges as well as a couple of alleged protection order violations.

Jeffrey R. Smith waived a preliminary hearing Thursday on a felony count of resisting arrest and was ordered by Judge Joseph Hensley to make his initial appearance in a trial division on that count on June 17.

The judge also ordered Smith bound over on counts of second-degree domestic assault and third-degree domestic assault and two alleged protection order violations on which a preliminary hearing April 11 was suspended to give the defense the opportunity to present evidence it did not have available at that time.

The second-degree domestic assault charge stems from events Feb. 18 in which Smith purportedly punched his roommate in the face twice.

A probable-cause affidavit states that the roommate told police Smith had not been at their residence for a couple of weeks when he showed up, found the front door locked, got upset and forced entry. He then allegedly proceeded to the bedroom where the roommate was sleeping and assaulted him, sending him to the hospital.

The affidavit states that Smith has eight prior convictions for domestic assault and has been arrested in the past for assaulting the roommate. He also is charged with violating a protection order and striking his sister in the face with a belt a few days earlier in February.