Plea agreement filed in battery case

A plea agreement has been filed in the case of a Spencer man accused of holding a Cloverdale woman against her will and battering her.

Under the terms of the agreement, Charles M. Collins, 41, will plead guilty to Class D felony criminal confinement and Class A misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury, while a charge of Class D felony strangulation will be dropped.

Sentencing on the two charges will be left up to the court, and could result in Collins being sent to jail for up to four years.

The charges against Collins stem from a Jan. 17 incident that occurred at the alleged victim's apartment. According to court documents, Collins held a woman hostage in her apartment and beat her throughout the night before she was able to summon help.

An affidavit of probable cause said an eyewitness saw Collins and the alleged victim at a Cloverdale gas station. The witness told police she saw Collins and the alleged victim have an altercation, and that the alleged victim was "obviously in distress."

Court records said the alleged victim sustained several injuries at Collins' hand, including two black eyes, various scratches and bruises and swelling to her lower lip and the bridge of her nose.

Collins was arrested in February, and has been lodged at the Putnam County Jail ever since.

At his initial hearing his bond was set at $15,000 with 10 percent authorized. Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley denied a request by Collins' court-appointed attorney Melinda Jackman-Hanlin for a bond reduction on Feb. 23, and Headley increased Collins' bond to $15,000 cash only.