Man pleads not guilty to 2018 felony battery

A Royal man pleaded not guilty Monday in Garland County Circuit Court to a felony battery charge stemming from his alleged assault of another man last year that was reportedly recorded on video by the victim’s wife.

Jason Byron Newman, 44, who lists a Forest Ridge Road address, pleaded not guilty to first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, with a trial date now set for May 13. A hearing to determine the admissibility of any statements Newman made to Garland County Sheriff’s investigators after his arrest is set for April 1.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 22, 2018, the victim, 49, filed a complaint about an alleged attack by a known suspect, identified as Newman, that had occurred the night before. The victim, who also lives in Royal, was reportedly transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs emergency room around 2 a.m. on Sept. 22 with facial fractures, a complex laceration to his left ear, broken ribs and possible injuries to his kidneys.

The victim said he asked Newman to come to his residence on Foxfire Trail so they could talk about “issues they had with each other.” When Newman arrived, he allegedly began to immediately attack the victim in the garage. Once the victim was on the ground, Newman allegedly punched, kicked and stomped on his head and torso multiple times.

At one point, Newman reportedly picked up a nearby propane tank and slammed it on the victim’s head. Then he pulled the victim out into the driveway where he continued to stomp, kick and punch him, the affidavit states.

The incident was video recorded by the victim’s wife, 52, who reportedly attempted to intervene during the attack on the husband. Before the end of the

video recording, Newman can reportedly be heard saying, “He’s (expletive) lucky. I came up here once to kill him.”

Both the victim and his wife were interviewed and stated the altercation was due to an alleged affair between the victim and Newman’s wife a few months earlier. Both of them stated Newman began attacking the victim “immediately upon exiting his truck” and the victim’s wife said Newman told her he wanted to kill the victim.

A warrant was issued for Newman on Sept. 24. According to the arrest report, the next day, sheriff’s investigators were advised Newman was at the office of his attorney, Josh Hurst, on Ouachita Avenue so they went there and made contact with the receptionist at the front desk who stated Hurst’s secretary would be coming to get them.

A few minutes later, the investigators saw Newman leaving the parking lot heading west on Ouachita so they both got in their vehicles and followed him, stopped his vehicle at Ouachita and West Grand Avenue and took him into custody.

Newman was released later that same day on $100,000 bond.