Accused attacker misses arraignment

ST. IGNATIUS – Police believe Gene Adams beat his pregnant girlfriend for the fourth time Oct. 5, sending her to St. Luke Community Hospital.

Adams, 25, was arrested, charged with felony aggravated assault Oct. 30. He did not show up for his Nov. 19 arraignment, and a court-ordered warrant was issued, Lake County court records said.

Adams’ alleged beating episode began after his victim’s telephone rang Oct 5. The, victim, a 28-week pregnant woman saw that her cousin was calling, but was ordered by Adams not to answer the phone, a court affidavit said. The victim then asked Adams’ permission to text her cousin back and received another refusal from Adams.

“When the victim tried to get her phone away from (Adams), he backhanded the victim across the left side of the face,” the affidavit said. “(Adams) jumped on the victim and began choking her,” the affidavit said. “(Adams) stopped briefly and sat up before pushing the victim back down and choking her again. The victim told officers she remembered flying off the bed, but does not know if (Adams) pushed her or threw her off.”

The victim said Adams choked her nearly to the point of passing out, and that he was pushing on her pregnant stomach, records said.

The girlfriend got up and attempted to get her phone, but (Adams) would not give it to her, court records said.

But when (Adams) walked out of the room, she grabbed her phone and called her mother.

Court records said that when Adams returned he tried to grab the phone but stopped when she put on her shoes and left.

The woman told police this incident was at least the fourth time she’d encountered violence with Adams and was terrified of him.

Anyone with information about the event can call Lake County Sheriff’s Office at (406) 883-7272.