Infant Hurt in Peaceful Way Domestic

Kimberly Batten and Justin Lee (CCSO)

A knife, firearm, screwdriver and car radio antenna were said to be used in a domestic assault that injured an infant Dec. 7 on Peaceful Way near Chadbourn.

The seven month old baby sustained minor injuries.

Kinberly Nicole Batten, 30, of 28 Matthew Dr., Whiteville, and Justin Stone Lee, 24, of 1223 Campbell Rd., Clarkton, were both booked under no bond on charges of misdemeanor domestic violence and misdemeanor child abuse. Lee was also charged with assault on a female. Batten was charged with simple assault.

The sheriff’s office reported that deputies were called to an “escalating confrontation” between Batten and Lee just before 11 a.m. Sgt. C. Fonvielle and Deputy C. Brown responded.

The man and woman gave conflicting accounts of the fight, according to the report.

Batten told deputies that Lee discharged a firearm inside the home, struck her with a screwdriver and car antenna, and broke into her vehicle.  Lee allegedly said that Batten attacked him with a knife while holding the infant, then hit him multiple times. The rear window of Batten’s vehicle was shattered during the fight. The baby was reportedly hit several times.

The infant was taken into custody of the Dept. of Social Services, then handed over to a family member after an investigation by DSS.

Neither the knife nor reported firearm were discovered on the scene, the report said.

About Jefferson Weaver 2581 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at jeffersonweaver@ColumbusCountyNews.com.

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