BEDFORD – A Lawrence County man is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly battered a minor and engaged in verbal threats while intoxicated at a party with juveniles in Bedford on Sunday.
Joshua Waggoner, 33, of Bedford, was arrested by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies and booked into the Lawrence County Security Center on October 26 on charges of battery on a minor causing moderate bodily injury, domestic battery in the presence of a minor, and intimidation.
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Deputy Kyle Long, police were alerted to the situation when a mother and son came to the Sheriff’s Department to report issues that occurred while he was attending a Halloween party with friends at Waggoner’s residence on Vinegar Hill Road.
The boy told Deputy Long that Waggoner, who appeared intoxicated, began yelling at the juveniles, shouting “random things,” and threatening to hit them. He told police one of his friends sustained a gash on his ear after being “thrown across the room.”
Deputies Long and Travis Atchison responded to the Vinegar Hill Road residence to conduct a welfare check. While Waggoner was not immediately found inside, the deputies spoke with several juveniles present at the home, including two who reside there and consider Waggoner their “stepdad figure.”
One of the juveniles at the home reported that Waggoner became upset, grabbed him by his sweatshirt, threw him onto the couch, placed his knee on him, and stuck his finger in his ear, causing a visible, bleeding cut. The deputy took photos of the injury on his cell phone, which were documented as evidence. Another juvenile stated that Waggoner pushed another friend to the floor.
A video recorded by one of the juveniles documented Waggoner yelling and using profanity toward one of the children.
Waggoner was later found by deputies asleep in a vehicle parked in the driveway. Upon being detained, he exhibited signs of intoxication, and a preliminary breath test resulted in a blood alcohol level of .165.
After being read his Miranda Rights, Waggoner admitted to consuming alcohol and stated he had been “horse playing” with one of the kids and “pinned him down.” When confronted with the statements and the visible injury, Waggoner admitted he “may have been a little too aggressive” but claimed he did not intend to hurt anyone.
Waggoner was detained and transported to jail.
Due to the nature of the allegations, the Department of Child Services was notified.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
