A Douglas man is accused of attacking one of his sons with a hammer and punching another son during a domestic argument that escalated out of control.
Joe Aceves, no age given, faces a felony aggravated assault and battery charge for allegedly turning a verbal argument violent that culminated in striking one of his sons with a hammer multiple times late Monday, according to an affidavit of probable cause made available Wednesday.
Aceves and the two sons, whose ages aren’t given in the affidavit written by Douglas Police Department Officer Chris Voigt, were in a verbal argument at about 10 p.m. Monday when the father grew more angry, the affidavit says.
Aceves “threw a TV to the ground, and (then) threw a fan at both (sons),” Voigt wrote. “Joe Aceves returned to the room and ripped the glasses off (the first son’s) face.”
When the first son tried to get his glasses back from his father, Aceves “attacked (him) in the rear bedroom of the residence, punching him and pushing him,” the affidavit says.
Defending His Brother
Trying to defend his brother, the second son helped wrestle Aceves to the ground in an attempt to end the fight, then they both tried to leave the house, Voigt wrote.
That’s when Aceves allegedly turned more violent, according to the affidavit.
The sons “got to the front door of the residence when (first son) saw his father Joe Aceves pick up a hammer in the living room,” the affidavit says. “Joe Aceves then pushed (first son) off the porch and (second son) wrestled Joe Aceves to the ground.”
At that point, the older man allegedly “began swinging the hammer” at son No. 2, Voigt wrote.
The second son was struck several times with the hammer, telling police that “he was hit by the hammer on the top left side of his chest and multiple times on the left leg,” the affidavit says.
Eventually, the second son was able to get the hammer away from his father and throw it away.
When he did that, the hammer crashed through the back window of a car parked in front of the house, which is where police later found it, Voigt wrote.
Could Get 10 Years
In an interview with Douglas police, the first son “confirmed he saw Joe Aceves swinging the hammer at (second son) and hitting him multiple times.”
Voigt wrote that he observed injuries on the second son consistent with the story of being attacked with a hammer, along with a busted lip and other injuries to the first son. Aceves also “had multiple cuts to his face and a cut on his left arm.”
Aceves declined to talk with police and was arrested. When being booked into the Converse County Detention Center, his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.201%.
Whether Aceves has had his first appearance in Converse County Circuit Court isn’t in the public-facing court file.
If convicted, Aceves could get a maximum of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
