FAIRMONT — A Truman man is facing a felony charge in Martin County. Steven Alan Persinger, 34, has been charged with one count of domestic assault, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000.

According to the complaint:

At approximately 8:51 a.m. on August 2, 2021, an officer with the Fairmont Police Department spoke with a woman who reported that a female relative had a black eye that she believed was the result of an assault by Persinger. She stated that the relative claimed that it was the result of walking into a door.

That same day, the officer called the relative, who at the time was meeting with a Faribault and Martin County Human Services social worker. When asked if she had been assaulted, the woman said that she had not.

The officer then spoke with the social worker, who had received permission from the woman to speak with law enforcement. The social worker told the officer that when she met with the woman a week prior, she had a noticeable black eye.

She stated that when she brought up the black eye, the woman stated that a child had thrown a toy and hit her in the eye. She then told the officer that the woman ultimately admitted that Persinger had hit her.

The following day, the officer met with the social worker and the woman. At that time the officer observed the woman had bruising to the lower portion of her right eye extending to her nose.

The woman told the officer that Persinger was at her residence on July 25, 2021, and the two of them got into an argument. At some point during the argument, Persinger struck the woman near her right eye.

At approximately 7:45 a.m. on August 4, 2021, another officer was informed by Persinger’s probation agent that Persinger was currently at the woman’s residence. Two officers went to the residence where they made contact with Persinger.

When asked what had happened the week prior, Persinger acknowledged that he and the woman got into an argument and were pushing each other. Persinger stated that his elbow or knee may have hit the woman when she fell or when she hit the door.

Persinger was convicted of Fourth-degree assault in December 2018 and Second-degree assault in June 2020.