Man Facing Battery Charges After Violent Custody Exchange
KOSCIUSKO — A local man is facing domestic battery charges after police say a custody change became violent.
Donald Lee Chichester, 44, with addresses of Syracuse and Leesburg, is being charged with domestic battery with a child present, a level 6 felony, and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor.
On Oct. 1, an officer with the North Webster Police Department responded to a domestic battery call. A female victim advised she went to the Tippecanoe Township building to pick up her son from Chichester. The female advised that when she opened Chichester’s car door to retrieve her son’s car seat, Chichester decided he was not going to let her take her son.
According to the female victim, Chichester physically shoved her and struck her in the face twice. The female was unable to retrieve her son, who then remained in the care of Chichester.
The affidavit of probable states that the officer observed that the female’s face was red and swollen.
Chichester was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 18, with a $6,000 surety and cash bond.