Felony Domestic Battery Charge Filed After 4-Year-Old Found With Belt Mark

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould suspect was arrested after police investigated a report of domestic battery involving a 4-year-old child.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Paragould officers took a report on March 7, 2026, after the child’s father contacted police regarding injuries observed on the child.

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The father told officers that when he got the child from the mother and the defendant, Hunter Girvotas, on March 4, the child had a welt on the lower back that appeared to be from a belt. The father reported that the child disclosed that the defendant had “whooped” them.

Police interviewed the father at the department on March 9, where he reportedly provided photographs showing significant bruising on the lower back of the 4-year-old, according to the affidavit.

Investigators interviewed Girvotas on March 12. During a Mirandized interview, police said the defendant admitted to spanking the child, which caused the injury.

Girvotas, 30, was arrested on a charge of second-degree domestic battering, a Class C felony.

Jail records show bail was set at $75,000.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.