Aaron Michael Dilks
(DOC file photo)
(Stillwater, Okla.) — An ex-convict, who served a prison sentence for beating his partner, has been jailed on $40,000 bail pending an Aug. 5 court appearance on a charge of attacking the same woman again at her rural Stillwater residence in the presence of their young children.
Due to his prior felony convictions, Aaron Michael Dilks, 41, could be imprisoned for three years to life if convicted of causing injuries to the woman’s neck, ear, collar bone and chest on June 25, which were photographed by a female sheriff’s deputy, court records show.
Dilks was arrested at 11:15 am at the woman’s rural Stillwater residence after he called 911 at 9:21 am, according to an affidavit.
Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy William Bowen wrote in his affidavit, “As I exited my patrol car, the male, later identified as Aaron Michael Dilks, stood up and put his hands up and then behind him — telling me to get his part over with. This is not a typical response from someone who is reporting to be the victim of a crime.
“As Aaron was talking, I noticed he had injuries,” a minor bleeding cut below his right eye as well as scratch marks behind his left ear and on his right calf and shin along with a skinned up left knee. “While speaking with Aaron, his motions were very erratic and all over the place,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“Aaron told me he had arrived home from donating a highchair to the Goodwill, and when he went inside, he and (the woman) began arguing, and he turned to leave the residence after telling (her) he would pick up their child from Head Start and have her home at 1:30 pm. Aaron stated as he went to leave, (she) attacked him by striking him in the face with her phone.
“Aaron stated they ended up on the floor with (her) continuing to assault him. This incident occurred in the presence of three of their four children. Aaron stated he covered the back of his neck with two hands, laying on the ground face down in the ‘surrender pose’ while getting struck. Aaron states he was trying to break the phone he was hit with. He was able to get free from (her) and exit the residence through the back door. While outside, Aaron called 911 and returned (her) phone to her,” according to his statement.
The woman told the deputy, “When Aaron left the residence to take their youngest child to Head Start, he was being verbally abusive towards her and calling her names such as a ‘whore.’ (She) said as Aaron came into the house, he began swinging at her. (She) was in fear of her safety at this point because of previous domestic assaults by Aaron on her person resulting in great bodily harm. (She) stated in 2019, Aaron had hit her in the face causing facial fractures, and she was concerned what injuries she would sustain if he hit her today,” the affidavit alleged.
“(She) went on to explain that she and Aaron have been together for nine years, and there have been multiple assaults on her by him, some reported to police and others not. (She) also said that Aaron is verbally and mentally abusive to her as well. She said he would throw her previous psychiatric care in her face. (She) also went on to say that Aaron controls and restricts her access to money.
“During my time in the residence, I noted that it was clean, mostly free of clutter aside from some children’s toys and blankets on the couch. The pantry was stocked with food. The children seemed happy and healthy but concerned for their mother. This is (her) residence, as Aaron is supposed to stay with his father in Norman. Aaron is not on the lease at this residence but has been staying here with (her) and the children for more than the two weeks allowed by the rental agreement,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
The woman’s injuries, which were photographed by Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Staci Nance, included marks on the back of her neck, behind her right ear, and on the right side of her neck near the collarbone, a red torn earlobe where an earring was ripped off, scratches to her right elbow as well as on the front of her neck and chest, bruising and scratches on her left buttock, a red raised knot on the top of her head, and possible bruises on her back and right shoulder, the affidavit said.
“Based on Aaron’s behavior by coming in and screaming and swinging at (her) and the injuries she sustained while defending herself from an attack from Aaron, Aaron was taken into custody for domestic assault and battery in the presence of minor children,” the affidavit alleged.
In 2019, he had punched the woman in the face in the presence of their children in Cleveland County, for which he served about one year of a four-year prison term before he was released on Christmas Day of 2020, according to the deputy’s affidavit and state Department of Corrections records.
Dilks had also been convicted of second-degree arson in Cleveland County in 2007 for which he was originally placed on probation, four years of which were revoked in 2019 to a concurrent four-year prison term. Dilks was also convicted in Cleveland County in 2002 of maintaining a house where drugs are kept and possessing methamphetamine, for which he was given concurrent five-year probationary terms, DOC records show.
