Helena man charged with child abuse, domestic assault

 

August 21, 2019



A rural Helena man has been charged with a felony and three misdemeanors in a domestic incident.

Matt Douglas Phillips, 43, has been charged with child abuse, a felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than life, or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

According to information on this charge, filed in Alfalfa County District Court, Phillips is accused of using unreasonable force against a 16-year-old girl, a minor, by grabbing her by the back of the head and hitting her face into the dirt while holding her in a choke hold. The charge states he continued to assault her and hit her about the head and body while threatening to kill her mother.

Phillips is also charged with misdemeanor counts of (1) domestic abuse – assault and battery, (2) domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor and (3) threatening to perform an act of violence.

In addition, Monica Deann Phillips has been granted an emergency protective order against her husband, Matt D. Phillips.

Court records show Alfalfa County Deputy Diego Gutierrez was dispatched to a Caddo Road address on Aug. 14 at 5:28 p.m. The resident called to say a minor showed up at his house barefoot and bleeding from the face. He said the girl’s father, Matt Phillips, had assaulted her moments earlier. Gutierrez asked dispatch to contact Helena Officer Jim Dykes to go with him as back-up and to notify Undersheriff Gary Mast.

Guiterrez and Dykes met outside Helena and proceeded to the residence. As they turned into the driveway, dispatch notified them a second call had been received from an individual on County Road 630 who said Matt Phillips had been driving down the road recklessly and later showed up behind their house where he was lying on the ground.

The officers went to the County Road 630 location where they found Phillips lying on the floor behind the home’s back door and rolling back and forth on his back.

Deputy Gutierrez reports Phillips was wearing a blue tank top with blood in several spots and no other garments except his underwear. He appeared to have a cut on a finger and several scuffs and scratches around his shoulders along with dried blood spots all over his body.

Gutierrez states Phillips began using profanity and refused to talk to him because he didn’t know him. However, he agreed to talk to Officer Dykes. Undersheriff Mast had arrived and stayed on the scene.

Gutierrez went to the Caddo Road location to speak to Monica Phillips and the 16-year-old.

He first spoke with Monica whom he described as wearing a t-shirt and shorts covered in dried blood stains. She also had blood stains on her arms and legs. Monica told him Phillips assaulted her after assaulting the girl. Gutierrez asked the girl to come outside and saw her school jersey was covered in blood stains; her face was covered in dirt and she had some small scratches and cuts around the mouth.

The girl told Gutierrez that Phillips picked her up from practice in Helena about 5:06 p.m. She said on the drive home, Phillips drove extremely recklessly in Monica’s black Mustang. She said he was arguing and yelling at her over a utility bill. She said when they got home, Phillips almost drove the car into the tree line and she yelled at him to stop driving like that as it was their only car and they couldn’t afford to get another one.

According to the affidavit, the girl said when Phillips got out, he threw the keys on the ground and Monica’s purse into the trees. She said he then began to hit the car and broke the driver’s side mirror. He also began picking up items and throwing them at the house. She said he punched the house door, breaking the window in the door and cutting himself.

The girl said she began to walk toward the road as Phillips yelled at her. She said Monica came outside and was also arguing with Phillips. Then Monica called for the girl to come back. Both said Phillips began yelling at the girl when she walked back and threatened to hit her. They said Phillips jumped over the railing and began swinging punches at the girl, grabbed her by the back of her head and began to hit her face into the dirt while holding her in a choke hold.

Monica was able to get Phillips off her, and the girl ran away to the neighbor’s house. Monica said she went inside where Phillips began to assault her, throwing a pot of hot shrimp boil toward her. She said some landed on her but most was on the floor.

Monica said Phillips continued to follow her around the house attempting to assault her and trying to take her phone. She said he tried to stop her from leaving by grabbing her by the neck, leaving marks. Phillips then left the house yelling and walking down the road. Monica said she left the house and was able to find the car keys outside on the ground. She left in the car for the neighbor’s house. She said as she drove on County Road 630, Phillips launched himself at the side of the vehicle. She said she swerved away as he hit the car along the side and grabbed at it.

Helena EMS was called for the girl because she thought her nose might be broken. She was taken to Bass in Enid. Gutierrez later called Bass and was told the girl had a contusion only.

Officer Dykes arrived saying Phillips was taken into custody and transported to the Alfalfa County Jail by Undersheriff Mast. Gutierrez later talked to Mast who said Phillips had made several statements threatening to kill Monica.

Bond in the case has been set at $50,000, and Phillips is next scheduled for a Sept. 11 court appearance.

 

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