JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri lawmaker's legislative aide was charged with domestic assault this week after a woman claimed he placed a chemical-smelling rag to her nose and mouth, then choked her until she lost consciousness.
An attorney for Republican Rep. Mike Kelley's aide Kolton Babb said the 22-year-old from Columbia denies the allegations. Babb posted a $10,000 cash bond and is not allowed to make contact with or be within 500 feet of the woman, according to court records.
Columbia police said Babb was talking about sex with a 20-year-old woman with whom he was in an "intimate relationship" at about 4 a.m. Wednesday in a Columbia home.
Police spokeswoman Officer Latisha Stroer said according to a probable cause statement, the woman claims Babb placed a chemical-smelling rag to her mouth and nose. The woman pushed the rag away, according to an excerpt from the statement provided by Stroer, and then Babb allegedly choked her until she passed out. The statement said Babb was "hovering" over the woman when she woke up on the floor.
Stroer declined to give further details about the relationship between the two.
Columbia attorney Andrew Popplewell said Babb cannot comment further, citing the pending criminal charges. Popplewell said if the case reaches circuit court, Babb plans to plead not guilty.
Kelley, of Lamar, said Babb first interned in his office in the legislative session that began January 2014 and was hired as his legislative aide shortly after session ended in May 2014. He said Babb has been suspended with pay pending the investigation.
Kelley said Babb has told him he's innocent, which he hopes is true. But he also said if Babb is guilty, "he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law that is currently allowed."
"I feel like I've known the young man," Kelley said. "He's well-liked by all the people around us. We've never seen anything that would indicate this kind of violent behavior, so I'm hopeful that his statements to me that he is innocent will be true."
A case review is scheduled for Wednesday in the Boone County Courthouse in Columbia, according to court records.