An Oakland man is in custody this week after police say he forcibly shaved his pregnant girlfriend’s head during a heated argument in early June, leaving cuts to her scalp. Court records show the 43-year-old is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and is scheduled for his next court appearance tomorrow.
According to The Mercury News, the alleged shaving occurred inside the couple’s Oakland home and left the woman with lacerations to her scalp. Investigators say the man shoved her head under a sink faucet as she tried to leave and threatened her the following day, allegedly telling her, "If that baby isn't mine, I am going to kill you." Police took him into custody on suspicion of assault, criminal threats and domestic violence and booked him in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Charges and court
Court filings indicate misdemeanor battery and threats counts are on the record, and investigators also booked the man on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. His next hearing is set for tomorrow at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland, according to the Alameda County Superior Court.
Legal context
Under California law, assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code §245) is a so-called wobbler that prosecutors can charge as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and the defendant’s record. The district attorney’s office will decide how to file the case and what penalties to pursue as the investigation and evidence review continue, according to legal summaries of the code.
Support for survivors
Advocates note that acts like forced shaving and threats can function as coercive control in abusive relationships, and local services are available to survivors. In Alameda County, victims can contact the Alameda County Family Justice Center at (510) 267-8800 for confidential support and referrals. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
The case remains under active investigation, and this story will be updated if prosecutors file formal charges or officials release additional details.
