BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted a Florence man on interstate domestic violence and stalking charges for assaulting and sending threatening phone messages to a former girlfriend living on Redstone Arsenal, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance.
An indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges RONNIE CHRISTOPHER RICKS, 46, with one count of interstate domestic violence for coming into the U.S. government’s special territorial jurisdiction of Redstone Arsenal and striking his former girlfriend with his fists on Aug. 5. The indictment also charges Ricks with interstate stalking for using an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, a cellular telephone, in order to harass or intimidate the woman and cause, or attempt to cause her substantial emotional distress.
The maximum penalty for each count is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Redstone Arsenal Police investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney David Estes is prosecuting.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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