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Waupaca man charged with domestic abuse

Prosecutors in three counties have filed three separate criminal cases against a Waupaca man.

Joseph W. Babbitts, 34, is charged in Waupaca County with disorderly conduct with a weapon and disorderly conduct as acts of domestic abuse, five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and 16 counts of felony and misdemeanor bail jumping.

He faces a domestic abuse charge in Calumet County and a third offense of operating with a restricted substance in Winnebago County.

Because he was convicted in Winnebago County of battery and disorderly conduct as acts of domestic abuse in 2006 and disorderly conduct as an act of domestic abuse in 2013, Babbitts has been charged as a repeat offender.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, Waupaca Police Officer Sam Van Dinter responded to the 200 block of East Union Street, where he met with a woman who had fled her home on the 300 block of Waupaca Street.

The woman said she had called the police earlier that day after Babbitts allegedly trashed their home. He had left the house before the officers arrived and returned about 20 minutes after they left.

According to the criminal complaint, Babbitts was angry at the woman because he fell into the lake after consuming three to four cans of ale.

After he returned home, Babbitts allegedly called her offensive names. She went outside and sat on the porch. He followed her and began asking her repeatedly if she planned to call the police again.

After they went back inside the house, Babbitts went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and threatened to use it if the police returned to their home, the complaint says.

The woman went to the bedroom and closed the door. She fell asleep and when she awoke, Babbitts was sleeping in another bedroom. The woman then left the house and called police.

Van Dinter drove the woman back to her home, where he was joined by two other officers.

When they entered the house, they found it in complete disarray. Items were scattered on the floor in every room. The cat litter box was dumped out on the floor, cereal and broken dishes were strewn about the kitchen floor, and an aquarium was shattered in the living room.

Van Dinter reported finding a knife near the couch. Babbitts was found in bed with a can of ale on the floor. Officers also seized drug paraphernalia from the house.

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