A 36-year-old Casper man with a history of domestic violence is being held on $30,000 bond for allegedly leaving a bruise on his wife and a bullet hole in a wall in a pair of incidents this week.
Chad Allen Harpster, who has previous convictions for violence and strangulation of a household member, now faces another felony domestic battery charge as well as a felon in possession of a firearm charge stemming from alleged incidents at his home Monday and Tuesday.
Harpster was arrested by Casper Police following an investigation into an argument between Harpster and his wife Monday that escalated Tuesday. Harpster is accused of pushing her onto a bed, taking a phone from her, and then destroying it, according to an arrest affidavit.
Threw Wife To Floor
Harpster’s wife tried to go toward her daughter’s room and he allegedly grabbed her and threw her to the floor, bruising her right arm. When she attempted to get up , he pushed her to the floor again, the affidavit states.
His wife was then able to stand, get her daughter and leave the home. When contacted by police at another residence, the affidavit states she did not want to press charges. Police took photographs of the wife’s injury as evidence.
The arrest affidavit states Harpster is on active probation for another domestic violence conviction against another female, which also includes a personal protection order. He also had been convicted previously for strangulation of a household member, the affidavit states.
When officers executed a search warrant on Harpster’s home to arrest him, they found evidence of violence, the affidavit says.
“Several holes in walls and doors were located inside the residence, which was consistent with (the wife’s) statement,” the affidavit states.
Bullet Casing And Bullet Hole
Officers also found a bullet casing in the living room to a 9 mm handgun, along with a bullet hole in the wall.
The affidavit states Harpster’s wife told officers her husband went to her vehicle and “obtained the pistol that day and was manipulating it when he caused it to fire, causing the damage,” the affidavit states. The wife “said this was accidental and not an assault situation.”
The domestic battery charge as a felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of not more than $10,000. The felon in possession of a firearm charge is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of not more than $3,000 or both.
As of Thursday morning, Harper remained in the Natrona County detention facility on a $30,000 bond, cash or surety.
The case is ongoing.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
