Sheriff's Domestic Assault Trial Over, Wife Refuses to Testify

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The assault trial of Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman ended in an acquittal Wednesday when his wife invoked spousal privilege and refused to testify against her husband, her accused assailant.

Bateman, 54, was charged with a single count of second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, for reportedly holding his wife, Elsie, down on a bed, then shoving her against a wall in April. He denied hitting his wife or pushing her into a wall.

According to charging documents filed by Anne Arundel County Police, the couple argued April 10, and the sheriff allegedly pushed Elsie Bateman onto a bed, then reportedly threw her against a wall, where she struck her head.

“The sheriff is drunk and he just punched me in the eye," Elsie Bateman told a 911 operator on the night of the couple’s dispute, although the dispatcher didn’t understand her at the time.

The sheriff has consistently denied assaulting his wife and said after his arrest that she would withdraw her accusation. On April 13, Elsie Bateman said some of the information released about the incident "has not been accurate and may be the result of some misinterpretations," WBAL reports.

"At no point in the argument did Ron punch or hit or kick me. He did not intentionally hurt me. No one is perfect or has a perfect marriage or relationship," Elsie Bateman said in a statement.

SEE ALSO:

• GOP Leaders Call for Anne Arundel Sheriff Bateman to Resign
• County Sheriff: Wife Will Recant Domestic Assault Claim
• County Sheriff Ronald Bateman Charged in Domestic Assault

Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams said that because of the unique relationship between the State's Attorney's Office and the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office, he referred the Bateman case to a special prosecutor outside of Anne Arundel County. Steve Kroll, the director of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association, served as special counsel in this case.

On Wednesday Adams referred all questions to the St. Mary’s County Assistant State’s Attorney's Office, and added that office was selected as an independent prosecutor for the case without his input.

“Our office was not privy to the evidence, investigation or witness interviews conducted in this case,” Adams said.

After his arrest, Bateman said in a statement, “I love my wife and she loves me very much. … Let me say this, I never ever, ever, assaulted Elsie. Things were said to police during high emotions, high stress, high anger, that were just blown out of proportion and not true, and soon you will read where she has recanted everything. We are embarrassed by this, but I can tell you that we're going to get through this with counseling.”

Under-Sheriff Rick Tabor assumed day-to-day control of the department, although Bateman returned to administrative work two days after his arrest.

Bateman's attorney Peter O'Neill told the Capital-Gazette the sheriff plans to resume full duty once he returns from a vacation with his family. That means Bateman will have his service weapon, his ID badge and other law enforcement gear returned to him.

»Photo of Sheriff Ronald Bateman, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police