Former Mo. House speaker charged with assault

[Bozita]

Source: AP

DEC 7, 8:09 PM EST

Former Mo. House speaker charged with assault

By CHRIS BLANK
Associated Press Writer


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton was charged with second-degree assault Monday stemming from a woman's claim that he hit her in the face several times and choked her.

The 42-year-old Republican was named in a complaint filed Monday in Scott County Circuit Court in southeastern Missouri. The complaint alleges that on Nov. 15, Jetton "caused serious physical injury" by hitting the woman on the head and choking her, which resulted in unconsciousness and the loss of function for part of her body.

Second-degree assault is a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to seven years.

According to a probable cause statement filed by a Sikeston police detective, Jetton and the woman discussed having sex and he came to her home on Nov. 15. Jetton poured her a glass of wine in the kitchen while she remained in the living room. After drinking wine while watching a football game, the woman reported fading in and out of conciousness several times during the evening.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORMER_SPEAKER_ASSAULT_MOOL-?SITE=MOCOD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[GreenTea]

1. Just another slimy filthy lying republican!

[Gman2]

2. Far from it. They should have done tests, to determine if he gave her a rohipnol.

He is a sexual predator. I am shocked that he has 2500 bail. This is one sick fuck.

[sasquatch]

3. Holy Jesus, he choked her nearly to death and all he got was assault

I guess because he's a pol it was hard to get a indictment on him from the grand jury.

[kestrel91316]

4. Another Reublican criminal. Color me surprised. I think that's two just today.

[Bravo Zulu]

5. dirtbag!

During the 2008 campaign, Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder criticized Jetton for working as a political consultant for three Republican state senators and a Republican House member while simultaneously serving as House leader. Two years earlier, the Missouri Ethics Commission had said no law prohibited such an arrangement but expressed "serious concerns" about the ability of a lawmaker-consultant to avoid legal violations and "about the appearance of impropriety" associated with it.

In 2004, when Jetton was the No. 2-ranking House official, he heckled Democratic Gov. Bob Holden during the State of the State speech, yelling: "Release the money, governor!"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/08/rod-jetton-former-missour_n_383817.html