Trial set for Jackson man accused of domestic assault, child endangerment

A Jackson man charged Jan. 23 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and bruising her 2-year-old son had his case set for trial Monday before Circuit Court Judge Benjamin F. Lewis.

Erik M. Marshall, 31, is accused of choking his girlfriend of several months after she confronted Marshall about red marks and bruises on her child's buttocks.

He's charged with second-degree domestic assault and child endangerment and his case will be heard before a jury starting July 14.

In a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, deputy Jerry Franks said the victim claimed to have seen Marshall spank her child the night before the alleged assault.

Also in the affidavit, Franks said he examined the 2-year-old and saw purple bruising surrounded by red marks on the child's buttocks. Franks also noticed red marks on the victim's neck.

Less than two months after the initial charges were filed, Marshall was charged with tampering with a witness for allegedly contacting the victim and telling her to not testify against him and to drop the case. During a March 23 preliminary hearing, a judge didn't find probable cause for tampering with the victim and dropped the charges.

Marshall was convicted of third-degree assault and second-degree property damage in 1999 and in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2009 he was convicted of operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver's license.

Marshall pleaded guilty to a second-degree domestic assault charge and driving under the influence of drugs in 2005 and was convicted of driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana in 2002.

A hearing on his probation violations has been continued to July 12.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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