Man accused of domestic assault gets reduction in bond

Associate Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Kamp ordered a reduction in bond Feb. 3 in the case against Jason J. Robert of Cape Girardeau, who is charged with second-degree and third-degree domestic assault for abusing and threatening to kill his girlfriend.

Robert, who lives at 1927 N. Kingshighway, Apt. 47, is also charged with theft and animal abuse.

Bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety, and Robert posted shortly after the court order. He was released on numerous bond conditions including not having any contact with the victim and her family or possessing or using intoxicating beverages or illicit drugs.

On several occasions Robert allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend, most recently on Jan. 21 and 22 he said he was going to kill her by using dynamite to blow up her house, according to a probable-cause affidavit issued by Cape Girardeau Police Department Detective Debi Oliver.

The victim told Oliver during a fight on the same day, Robert attempted to cut off her finger to remove her wedding rings. Her 8-year-old daughter, the victim added, got between them to make Robert stop.

During an incident in December 2009, Robert allegedly told his girlfriend he was going to cut her tongue out of her mouth and grabbed a knife and attempted to cut her tongue. In November 2009, Robert allegedly attempted to strangle her, wrote Oliver in the affidavit.

In the last few years, the victim told Oliver that Robert has slapped, kicked, punched her and spit on her.

On Jan. 21, Robert allegedly drove the victim's car without her consent and refused to return it after numerous requests from the victim. On Jan. 22, Robert was caught on a video surveillance camera walking into Walgreens Pharmacy, 1 S. Kingshighway, where he purchased Darvocet, a controlled substance written for the victim. Robert did not give the victim the medication, according to Oliver's affidavit, and did not have the victim's consent to pick up the medication.

The victim and her children presented statements to Oliver that Robert has also allegedly abused their family pets. He has thrown, choked and kicked their cat, they told Oliver, and has thrown a cage holding their three baby rabbits.

Oliver said Jamie Ludwig, a community case manager, has witnessed all of the victim's children talk and write about the animal abuse and physical abuse to their mother.

Robert is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 18 for his preliminary hearing.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

1927 N. Kingshighway, Apt. 47, Cape Girardeau, MO

1 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO