Libby man guilty of domestic assault

On Monday, Thomas Eaker, 25, pleaded guilty in city court to partner family member assault and disorderly conduct. The charges are the consequence of a call Libby police responded to on Saturday night at about 6 p.m. from a concerned citizen reporting a domestic disturbance in progress.

When officers arrived, the reporting party pointed to the residence where the altercation was heard coming from. According to court documents, upon seeing the officers Eaker began to walk away before turning around, taking off his backpack and advancing towards Officer Powell with an aggressive demeanor.

Deputy Davis stood near Eaker while Powell talked with the victim about what had transpired.

The woman told the officer that when she got home she found Eaker asleep and her child unattended. When she confronted Eaker, he became angry and yelled at the woman. She decided to leave the home for about two hours so he could cool off.

After returning to the house, Eaker continued to verbally berate the victim, whereupon she asked him to leave several times.

The altercation became physical with Eaker allegedly throwing a chair at the victim causing a bleeding wound. She was then pinned in the corner of the kitchen where she defended herself by pushing the man away.

Eaker then used his backpack and a plastic toy gun to continue hitting the woman on her head and body. The woman said she was afraid of Eaker.

After talking with the couple, officers determined Eaker was the aggressor and arrested him.

The victim’s wounds were photographed and an explanation of the assault was shared with the victim’s rights organization.

Partner family member assault is an offense of MCA 45-5-206, which the defendant will pay $585 fine for and was sentenced to one year in county jail with all but five days suspended. He was given credit for two days served.

For the offense of disorderly conduct, Eaker was ordered to pay $185.