Cape man turns himself in for domestic assault

A Cape Girardeau man has turned himself in to police to face charges of second-degree assault in which his live-in girlfriend claims to have been beaten over a two-day period that she was held captive in their apartment.

Joseph R. Hurt, 24, walked into the Cape Girardeau Police Department about 9:40 p.m. Sunday, according to department spokesman Darin Hickey. Police had been looking for Hurt, who is listed in court documents as a prior domestic violence offender, since Aug. 20, the day the victim made the report to police.

Hurt's initial arraignment was Monday in Jackson in front of Judge Gary Kamp. Hurt is being held on a $25,000 cash-only bond with the conditions that he make no direct or indirect contact with the woman and he must stay more than 500 feet from her residence or place of employment.

The woman, described as Hurt's "live-in girlfriend," told law enforcement that she had been assaulted by Hurt, starting on a Sunday afternoon and continuing on through the following Monday. Police have only said the assaults were periodic and when Hurt left their apartment on the 2800 block of Themis Street, he would lock her inside.

She received moderate injuries that were not life-threatening.

Calls to the Cape Girardeau County Jail about Hurt's jail status were not immediately returned early Monday afternoon.

Pertinent address:

100 Court St., Jackson, MO

2800 Themis St., Cape Girardeau, MO