(Stillwater, Okla.) — An Agra man has been given a two-year prison term for violating his probation in his 2007 wife-beating case in Payne County by committing another assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Lincoln County.
Christopher James Lightner, 39, has been in state prison for two months — while serving a two-year sentence for a 2011 assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Agra, court records show.
As part of a plea bargain approved in court Friday, Lightner’s two-year prison term for the 2007 attack in Payne County runs concurrently with his Lincoln County prison term.
Lightner was living in rural Ripley in 2007 when he hit his wife in the head with a claw hammer — for which he was placed on five years’ probation, court records show.
He was also ordered to serve 180 days in jail, to have a mental health evaluation, to perform 50 hours of community service and to pay $200 to the victims’ compensation fund in the 2007 attack on his wife.
Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Kitchel wrote in an affidavit that he was sent to the couple’s home shortly before midnight on May 26, 2007, after a 12-year-old child called 911.
“On arrival, deputies had the defendant in custody in the back yard, and victim was standing in the front yard with blood on her chin and neck area,” the affidavit said.
“Victim says that she had come home with the kids just before the call, and defendant blew up at her — hitting her with his hands while in the residence, then on going outside to get away from the kids, defendant picked up a claw hammer and hit the victim in the face, causing her nose to bleed, and at least three times on the back of victim’s head,” the affidavit said.
“Victim went on to say that defendant picked up a bed rail and swung at her — advising that she caught it with her hands,” the affidavit said.
She had small cuts on the backs of her hands and arms and could not hold a pen to write a statement, the affidavit said.
Six children, ages 12 to 3, were present at the time of the incident, the affidavit said.
“Victim says she believes the older kids saw the incident, but did not believe the younger ones did.
“Victim’s mother came to the residence to take care of the kids while Cushing ambulance checked on the victim.
“Victim was not transported to the hospital, but was to stay with her mother for the night for observation,” the affidavit said.
According to state Department of Corrections records, Lightner is due to be released from prison in September in his Lincoln County case — and then to be on probation for five years.
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