PORT TOWNSEND — A Forks man pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence assault following an incident in May that left his wife with a laceration under her left eye, bruising on her neck and upper chest, and abrasions on her forearms and knee.
Arthur Ray Ellis was sentenced on Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court to three months in jail with an additional 12 months of community custody that includes mandatory domestic violence perpetrator treatment, substance abuse treatment and no contact with the woman for 10 years.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies, the Quinault Tribal Police and an aid unit responded to a 911 call on May 28 and treated the woman for her injuries, according to a press release from the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
The woman said Ellis had become enraged after a disagreement they had over music. She said he grabbed her by the hair, choked her, punched her in the face and slammed her head into the floor.
Ellis pursued her after she fled to a nearby residence, she said.
Ellis was arrested the following day after he returned home. During questioning, Ellis told sheriff’s deputies that the woman had attacked him, but he could not provide any details about the incident.
“This case demonstrates the importance of coordinated law enforcement action and a victim-centered approach to addressing domestic violence,” Kennedy said. “We are all committed to ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous acts face justice.”
