07-24-2012, 09:24 AM
RIPLEY - Despite testimony that injuries sustained by Stephanie Lizon were accidents, her husband has been bound over to Jackson County Circuit Court after a magistrate found probable cause Friday during a hearing in Jackson County Magistrate Court.
Peter Lizon, 37, was accused of torturing his wife Stephanie. On June 18, as they were returning rental property to a Parkersburg store, she left their truck and asked employees in another part of the store for help.
Later she made her way to the Family Crisis Intervention Center where she recounted a story of being burned with a hot skillet, her feet injured by having farm equipment dropped on them and being chained.
On the stand Friday in her husband's preliminary hearing on a felony charge of malicious wounding, she said the incidents with the skillet and the farm equipment were accidents and she was never chained. A bruise on her side was the result of being gored by one of the goats she was raising and abrasions on her knee were from tripping, she said.
Jackson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Katie Casto asked Lizon why she went to the center.
"We were having an argument in our truck and I wanted to get away," she said. "I did not want to argue in front of our baby."
During her testimony Lizon was shown photos taken of her at the center and was asked to tell what happened with each one. She said the burns on her back and chest were not intentional but stemmed from an argument over breakfast.
"It was over breakfast and sometimes our arguments get passionate; I was cooking without wearing my shirt which I feel is my right in my home," she said. "We collided with each other."
Lizon said the incident occurred about a week and a half earlier. Injuries to her foot were sustained in an accident with a frontloader on their tractor.
"He was trying to fix it and he asked me to check the linchpins," she said. "He didn't realize I was so close."
Casto introduced photos into evidence taken at the center over the objection of Peter Lizon's attorney, Shawn Bayliss. Magistrate Jackie Casto said she found the use of the photos to be appropriate.
Lizon said she did not get treatment for her feet until she had been to the center.
Georgianna Hollopeter, shelter manager and supervisor of the Family Crisis Intervention Center, did the intake interview of Lizon and took the photos on June 20. She said Lizon told a story much different from the one in her testimony. She said Lizon entered the shelter using an alias.
Bayliss objected to Hollopeter's testimony saying it was hearsay. Casto said she could introduce out of court statements in which the statement has not been offered to the truth of the matter. Magistrate Casto overruled the objection.
Hollopeter said Lizon told her why her husband hit her.
"She said she did not prepare the meal correctly and her husband, Peter, hit her with the hot pan she was cooking with," she said. "She said it was intentional."
In regard to the foot injuries and the bruise on her side, Hollopeter said Lizon said the injuries were the result of him dropping a hay-bailer on her feet and then continually stepping on her feet and kicking her.
"She said she believed it was intentional," she said. "She said she thought about things while at the shelter and she believed Peter wanted a divorce. She didn't know it he wanted the divorce to make her leave or to keep her from running away from him."
Later the center was able to get Lizon a bus ticket to go to her mother in Alexandria, Va., but she refused to get on the bus stating she wanted to get her child away from Peter Lizon.
Magistrate Casto said there was probable cause for the matter to be sent over to circuit court and the grand jury.
Bayliss made motions for a bond reduction and amendments to bond conditions. Casto said she was not made aware of the motions prior to the hearing when she could have ruled on them. After making the determination there was probable cause, she said the case was under the jurisdiction of the circuit court and he needed to make his motion there.
Peter Lizon, 37, was accused of torturing his wife Stephanie. On June 18, as they were returning rental property to a Parkersburg store, she left their truck and asked employees in another part of the store for help.
Later she made her way to the Family Crisis Intervention Center where she recounted a story of being burned with a hot skillet, her feet injured by having farm equipment dropped on them and being chained.
On the stand Friday in her husband's preliminary hearing on a felony charge of malicious wounding, she said the incidents with the skillet and the farm equipment were accidents and she was never chained. A bruise on her side was the result of being gored by one of the goats she was raising and abrasions on her knee were from tripping, she said.
Jackson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Katie Casto asked Lizon why she went to the center.
"We were having an argument in our truck and I wanted to get away," she said. "I did not want to argue in front of our baby."
During her testimony Lizon was shown photos taken of her at the center and was asked to tell what happened with each one. She said the burns on her back and chest were not intentional but stemmed from an argument over breakfast.
"It was over breakfast and sometimes our arguments get passionate; I was cooking without wearing my shirt which I feel is my right in my home," she said. "We collided with each other."
Lizon said the incident occurred about a week and a half earlier. Injuries to her foot were sustained in an accident with a frontloader on their tractor.
"He was trying to fix it and he asked me to check the linchpins," she said. "He didn't realize I was so close."
Casto introduced photos into evidence taken at the center over the objection of Peter Lizon's attorney, Shawn Bayliss. Magistrate Jackie Casto said she found the use of the photos to be appropriate.
Lizon said she did not get treatment for her feet until she had been to the center.
Georgianna Hollopeter, shelter manager and supervisor of the Family Crisis Intervention Center, did the intake interview of Lizon and took the photos on June 20. She said Lizon told a story much different from the one in her testimony. She said Lizon entered the shelter using an alias.
Bayliss objected to Hollopeter's testimony saying it was hearsay. Casto said she could introduce out of court statements in which the statement has not been offered to the truth of the matter. Magistrate Casto overruled the objection.
Hollopeter said Lizon told her why her husband hit her.
"She said she did not prepare the meal correctly and her husband, Peter, hit her with the hot pan she was cooking with," she said. "She said it was intentional."
In regard to the foot injuries and the bruise on her side, Hollopeter said Lizon said the injuries were the result of him dropping a hay-bailer on her feet and then continually stepping on her feet and kicking her.
"She said she believed it was intentional," she said. "She said she thought about things while at the shelter and she believed Peter wanted a divorce. She didn't know it he wanted the divorce to make her leave or to keep her from running away from him."
Later the center was able to get Lizon a bus ticket to go to her mother in Alexandria, Va., but she refused to get on the bus stating she wanted to get her child away from Peter Lizon.
Magistrate Casto said there was probable cause for the matter to be sent over to circuit court and the grand jury.
Bayliss made motions for a bond reduction and amendments to bond conditions. Casto said she was not made aware of the motions prior to the hearing when she could have ruled on them. After making the determination there was probable cause, she said the case was under the jurisdiction of the circuit court and he needed to make his motion there.