Joseph Stephen Fielden, 39, was convicted of domestic battery last week and sentenced to one year of probation.
Facing up to a year in jail for the misdemeanor, Fielden took a plea deal that was accepted by Judge Meshon Rawls.
According to the arrest report, on the night of July 30, Fielden came home intoxicated and verbally combative, but he didn’t yet batter the victim. The following morning, Fielden and the victim were arguing, and he lightly slapped her, and she defended herself with a broom. They continued arguing verbally for a few moments until Fielden slapped her again, much harder than the previous time. The victim ran away and called the police…