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Man faces malicious assault charge

PARSONS — A Putnam County man is facing several charges after he allegedly physically assaulted a woman and burned her with a cigarette.

Cody Taylor Yingst, 22, of Hurricane, is charged with one felony count of malicious assault, one misdemeanor count of battery and one misdemeanor count of interfering with emergency communications. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $7,500 cash-only bond, set by Tucker County Magistrate Mont Miller.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Tucker County Magistrate Court, at approximately 2:26 p.m. on Wednesday, Deputy C.R. Donelson, of the Tucker County Sheriff’s Office, was dispatched to Lakeview Road, in Davis, regarding a possible domestic altercation.

Once there, Donelson was met by United States Fish and Wildlife police officer Hartwig and Division of Natural Resources police officer Ozales, who had detained Yingst, police said.

Hartwig told Donelson there was a marijuana-smoking device near the driver’s seat of the vehicle in Yingst’s possession, police said. Donelson asked Yingst if there were any other illegal items in the vehicle and he reportedly said there was marijuana inside.

Yingst also had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his breath, Donelson wrote in the complaint. Donelson and Hartwig searched the vehicle and located a clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

Donelson spoke with the alleged victim, who said she and Yingst were co-workers. She added they had come to Timberline to ski and were staying at a residence belonging to Yingst’s parents, police said.

The alleged victim said when the two arrived at the residence, Yingst said he wanted to rest and the two laid down in bed. At that time, Yingst tried to kiss the female and was told “no, that they were just friends,” according to the complaint.

She said after she turned Yingst down he began drinking, getting mean and saying mean things. The two then traveled to Hellbender Burritos where Yingst became drunk, was unable to stand and forgot his keys, so the two were not able to get back into the residence they were staying at, court documents state.

While sitting in the car, Yingst “became angry,” stated that he hated her and said he was going to “beat the s— out of her.”

Yingst then grabbed the alleged victim, who was able to get away; however, Yingst went after her, grabbed her and hit her in the shoulder, back and ribs, the complaint states.

The alleged victim said she also felt something hot on her head and could smell hair burning. When she pushed away from Yingst she noticed he had a cigarette and he began laughing, court documents state.

Donelson observed red and purple bruise marks on the body of the alleged victim as well as a black burn mark on the top of her head, according to the complaint.

While the alleged victim was attempting to contact 911, Yingst took her phone away and left. She was picked up by a passerby, the complaint states.

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