Smyrna Man Convicted of Attacking Mother of His Child

A Smyrna man has been sentenced to prison following his conviction on domestic violence and other charges for a 2014 incident which saw him punch a woman in the mouth and steal items from her, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Damarius JaJuan Stradford, 32, was found guilty of aggravated battery-family violence and theft by taking for a July 10, 2014 incident at apartment complex on Oakdale Road in Smyrna. Police arrived to the scene just after midnight and discovered a woman bleeding heavily from her mouth.

The victim told police that she was driving in the apartment complex when Stradford punched her in the mouth then took her money, cell phone, and other items. The victim is the mother of Stradford’s child.

During a bench trial that concluded this week before Cobb Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole, the victim refused to testify and was held in contempt of court and jailed for seven days.

“This defendant abused the mother of his child and blamed her for his actions. He never accepted responsibility, and he thought that he could get away with it,” said ADA Lauryn Perry, who prosecuted the case. “Victims of domestic violence are not at fault for the actions of their abusers.”

Judge Poole sentenced the defendant as a recidivist to 20 years, with two years to serve in prison and the rest on probation.