A History of Violence: Repeat Domestic Abuser to be Arraigned for Murder

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA—A man is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 20 for the beating-murder of his ex-girlfriend after ongoing domestic violence, stalking and being served restraining orders.

Nicholas Lee Clark, a 26-year-old Placentia man, is charged with one felony count of murder. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Per Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, in his felony complaint, Nicholas Lee Clark did "unlawfully and with malice aforethought kill Madeline Mallory."

"Clark is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Aug. 19, 2016, at 10 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana," the District Attorney's Office said in release.

In early 2016, Clark was in a romantic relationship with 19-year-old Madeline Mallory for approximately four months.

"They lived together at Clark’s apartment in Placentia for a brief period of time," the report stated. "During the course of their relationship, Mallory sought treatment for physical injuries caused by domestic violence and at one point fled to a women’s shelter."

In June 2016, the defendant was served a restraining order prohibiting him from threatening, battering, or attacking Mallory.

"On July 31, 2016, Clark is accused of meeting and severely beating Mallory at his place of business until she became unresponsive," the report stated. "The defendant called 9-1-1 and told the police dispatcher his ex-girlfriend fainted in front of the door."

Clark is accused of fleeing the scene before police and emergency medical responders arrived.

"The officers performing CPR saw visible bruising on the victim’s face, arms, and chest," the report from the Orange County District Attorney's office said. "Mallory did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital as a result of blunt force trauma to her head and torso."

READ: Placentia Murder Suspect with History of Stalking, Domestic Relations Crimes

Later that day, the Placentia Police Department, who investigated this case, located and arrested Clark in Lakewood. Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas stated in his felony complaint that Nicholas Lee Clark did "unlawfully and with malice aforethought kill Madeline Mallory."

Clark's lengthy history of domestic relations related charges stems back 2009, and the last known event was in 2011, according to court documents. Clark pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2009, to disobeying a court order and was placed on three years of informal probation and ordered to complete 12 days of community service in lieu of jail.

On May 25, 2010, he pleaded guilty to disobeying a domestic relations court order and contempt of court, both misdemeanors, and was again placed on three years of informal probation and sentenced to 10 days jail.

Court records show Clark pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2011, to contempt of court, stalking and two counts of disobeying a domestic relations court order, all misdemeanors. He was placed on three years of informal probation and was ordered to spend 90 days in jail, enroll in a batterer's treatment program and perform eight hours of community service.

No information has been released on incidents between 2011 and 2016, until the most recent release by the Orange County District Attorney's office stating that In June 2016, Clark was served a restraining order prohibiting him from threatening, battering, or attacking Mallory.

There is no word as to how Mallory ended up at Clark's place of business the morning of the attack.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Booking Photo Courtesy Placentia Police Department