Domestic Violence Plagues Daniel Baldwin and Family

Posted by Cameron Heron on July 21, 2011 Leave a comment (0) Go to comments

Despite having a restraining order in place against his soon-to-be ex-wife, actor Daniel Baldwin and his children have had to weather ongoing acts of domestic violence by Joanne Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin has filed divorce papers.

Ms. Baldwin was jailed on July 13 after her husband reported that she had threatened to kill him during a July 10 fight. Ms. Baldwin, who has two drunk driving convictions, admitted to the judge that she used alcohol to self medicate.

Mr. Baldwin reported that she had become violent when drunk and that her drinking had escalated over time. He told the judge that she had violated her probation (for the drunk driving charge) “hundreds of times” and that during their July 10 fight, she told him she had watched a documentary about women who kill their husbands and now knew how to do it. She warned him that if he didn’t move out of the house she would kill him.

These threats were reportedly overheard by the couple’s children, who had also seen their mother hit their father in the face. Baldwin said the police told him to remove the two children from the home after the incident.

Violation of a restraining order is considered contempt of court. A person who has been charged with violating an order will be arrested and taken to jail. Depending upon the severity of the violation, the violator could be charged with a misdemeanor or possibly a felony, especially if there have been repeat violations and, as in this case, threats of violence.

Ms. Baldwin was sentenced to jail for 10 days.