Affidavit: Benton County judge nominee punched wife, slammed her head into floor

BENTONVILLE — Court documents filed Monday detail the allegations that led to the arrest of state Rep. Austin McCollum, the Republican nominee for Benton County judge, including claims that he pinned his wife to a bed with his knee on her neck and later slammed her head against the floor.

The probable cause affidavit, written by a Benton County sheriff’s sergeant and approved by a deputy prosecuting attorney, was filed in Benton County Circuit Court on Monday.

Deputies were dispatched to a Bentonville home shortly after midnight Aug. 1 for a physical disturbance, according to the affidavit.

McCollum, 35, began arguing with his wife after the couple arrived home, the affidavit states. He threw his shoes at her on the stairs, then began throwing items around a bedroom and struck her with a clothes hanger.

She said she wanted to sleep in another room, according to the affidavit. McCollum stood in front of the bedroom door and refused to let her leave. He then threw her face down on the bed, climbed on top of her and drove his knee into the back of her neck, pushing her face into the mattress and restricting her airway, the affidavit states.

She broke free and reached the door, the affidavit states. McCollum slammed the door on her hand and injured two of her fingers. He then punched her in the face, splitting open her brow, threw her to the floor, pinned her there, grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the ground repeatedly, according to the document.

McCollum then tried to get her to clean herself up and hide the blood, the affidavit states. Another family member in the house called 911. Other family members arrived and separated the couple before deputies got there.

McCollum was intoxicated when deputies arrived and refused to give a statement explaining her injuries, according to the affidavit. Deputies reported blood on his legs and arms, transfer on his hands and injuries to his knuckles consistent with punching someone repeatedly.

A criminal history check found no prior record.

The sheriff’s office requested a $25,000 bond, citing risk of flight, the nature of the crime and the possible severity of penalty. A judge set bond at $10,000 cash or corporate surety. McCollum posted it and was released Sunday.

The court found probable cause to hold McCollum on aggravated assault on a household or family member, a Class D felony; first-degree false imprisonment, a Class C felony; and third-degree domestic battering, a Class A misdemeanor. Formal charges have not been filed.

A no-contact order signed Aug. 2 bars McCollum from contacting his wife in any form, directly or through another person, and requires him to stay at least 1,500 feet away, even if she appears to allow contact. He is also barred from possessing firearms, ammunition, alcohol, illegal drugs or any controlled substance he does not have a prescription for. Violating the order is a separate Class A misdemeanor.

McCollum declined a public defender, and no attorney has been appointed by the court. Bentonville attorney Shane Wilkinson confirmed Sunday he represents McCollum and declined to comment.

McCollum is scheduled to appear at 8 a.m. Sept. 8 in Benton County Circuit Court, Division 1.

McCollum has served in the Arkansas House since 2017 and represents District 8. He won the Republican nomination for county judge in the March 3 primary, defeating Justice of the Peace Carrie Smith.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Attorney General Tim Griffin, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack and Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge have all called on him to resign his House seat and drop out of the county judge race. House Speaker Brian Evans stripped him of his leadership and committee assignments.

McCollum has not publicly responded. His campaign website went blank Sunday, and public posts on his campaign Facebook page were removed.