During a raging domestic dispute in Grafton, N.D., authorities say, a man put a dog leash around the neck of his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter, dragged her through two rooms and then pummeled the girl's 13-year-old brother when he stood up for his sister.
Raylon Hawkins, 23, had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday on several felony and misdemeanor charges against him, but questions about his mental competency forced the hearing to be delayed until Aug. 12.
Walsh County State's Attorney Barbara Whelan said Hawkins has received a mental evaluation, the results of which are confidential, and that she, Hawkins' attorney and the judge handling the case are waiting for more information on Hawkins' diagnosis before moving ahead.
According to a criminal complaint:
The domestic dispute occurred March 19 at a townhouse Hawkins shared with his girlfriend and her children. He and his girlfriend had been living together for the past few years.
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During the dispute, Hawkins verbally and physically assaulted his girlfriend, pushing her and causing pain in her side.
Hawkins then told the 12-year-old girl that he was going to "treat her like a dog." He placed a leash around her neck, tightened it and pulled her through the living room and kitchen which made her to gag, hindered her breathing and injured her neck. After freeing her from the leash, Hawkins slapped her in the face, bruising her around her left eye.
When the girl's 13-year-old brother tried to defend her by challenging Hawkins with a hockey stick, Hawkins tackled him in the living room and punched him several times in the head and face, leaving him with multiple bruises.
The boy retreated to his room, and Hawkins went after him, punching him on the left side of the head. Hawkins used a hockey stick to break an Xbox 360, a video game system, in the boy's room and, in doing so, broke the stick. Hawkins threatened that he was going use his shoe to kick the boy in the face and knock out his teeth.
Hawkins then went into the second-floor bedroom he shared with the children's mother and launched verbal assaults at her. The boy came into the room with a pocket knife but was afraid to use it. Hawkins attacked the boy, took the knife and sliced the boy above his right eye, making him bleed.
At some point, the 12-year-old girl called 911, and officers arrived. The boy and girl were crying and visibly upset. Both suffered "mental anguish" as a result of the ordeal, the complaint says.
Whelan said the children were taken to Unity Medical Center in Grafton to be treated.
Hawkins is in custody at the Walsh County Jail with a bail amount of $15,000.
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He's charged with six felonies -- terrorizing, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of child abuse -- along with misdemeanors of simple assault and criminal mischief.
A message left for Hawkins' court-appointed attorney, David Dusek, was not returned Thursday.
Ingersoll reports on crime and courts. Reach him at (701) 780-1269; (800) 477-6572, ext. 269; or send e-mail to aingersoll@gfherald.com .
