Man arrested twice in same week for domestic assault

A Coaldale man was arrested twice in one week for assaulting his girlfriend.

Joseph Scoggins, 23, of 205 E. Ridge St., Coaldale, was charged on June 9 after police were called to St. Luke's Miner's Hospital for a domestic assault victim.

The woman said she woke up at 5:30 a.m. when Scoggins began choking her. As she attempted to get away, he punched her, several times, in the leg. He then slapped her across the face and took away her cellphone.

He was charged with simple assault and harassment.

The couple broke up and he was in the process of moving out of the apartment when she came home from work on June 13 to find him sleeping in the living room.

He was supposed to be watching their three children, a 4-year-old, a 3-year-old and 2-month-old.

She woke him and they became involved in an argument over custody and child support. At one point, he grabbed her by the neck and started to choke her. She was then pushed to the floor, where he began slapping and punching her face.

At one point, he grabbed a wood knife and threatened to kill her. She was able to escape by scratching his neck.

She then fled and contacted police.

When officers spoke with Scoggins, he reported being assaulted by his former girlfriend. His injuries consisted of a scratched neck, while she had a swollen left eye and bruising to her eye, mouth and facial area.

He was charged with making terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.