By Hub City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A 22-year old Marshfield man was charged with multiple counts of domestic abuse as a repeat offender. Joseph N. Hewitt had two prior domestic abuse convictions before the July 18 incident in which Wisconsin Rapids police were called to an apartment complex on South Twelve Street in Wisconsin Rapids.

A witness stated that a male subject was pushing and slapping a female in the parking lot of the complex before dragging the victim back into an apartment. The witness stated that several juveniles were also involved in the incident.

The female victim told police that an altercation with Hewitt took place in a vehicle earlier that day and that after returning to the apartment, Hewitt left for a time.

According to the criminal complaint, Hewitt returned to the residence, and another altercation ensued in which the victim, who stated that she was pregnant, was strangled.

The victim stated that Hewitt began throwing items around the apartment, causing damage.

The female victim and the juveniles escaped the apartment and made it to a vehicle before Hewitt came outside and dragged them back into the residence, where the victim stated that she was physically assaulted by Hewitt.

Hewitt was charged in Wood County court with the following: second degree recklessly endangering safety, a class G felony that comes with up to $25,000 in fines and/or 10 years imprisonment; strangulation and suffocation and false imprisonment, both class H felonies that come with up to $10,000 in fines and/or six years imprisonment each; two counts of battery and criminal damage to property, all class A misdemeanors that could result in $10,000 in fines and/or nine months imprisonment each; and disorderly conduct – use of a dangerous weapon, a class B misdemeanor that comes with up to $1,000 in fines and 90 days imprisonment.