An Arkansas woman was arrested on a Dallas County warrant Tuesday for allegedly aiding and abetting in the attempted murder of a Bouton man at the Perry boat ramp in March.
Michelle Rosa McAtee, 32, of 194 Laser Lane, Austin, Arkansas, was charged with attempted murder and willful injury causing bodily injury.
The attacker, Michael Jason Godwin, 31, of 324 S. Ninth St., Missouri Valley, Iowa, was arrested July 1 on charges of attempted murder and willful injury causing bodily injury. He was sentenced Nov. 6 in Dallas County District Court to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of willful injury causing bodily injury.
According to court records, on March 2 McAtee allegedly “lured” the Bouton man “to the boat ramp under false pretenses, using the Snapchat app,” and she allegedly drove Godwin, “who threatened to beat up and kill” the victim, “to the Perry boat ramp.”
McAtee allegedly watched Godwin “conceal himself in bushes, awaiting” the victim’s arrival, and fled the scene with Godwin following the attack. She later “lied to law enforcement about her involvement.”
The attack resulted in the victim’s suffering “broken facial bones, a broken nose and possible permanent vision issues,” according to court records.
McAtee is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $75,000 cash or surety bond. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 30 in Dallas County District Court.
According to court records, Godwin repeatedly struck the victim “in the face with a metal jack handle.” The victim fought off the attack, but Godwin “continued to try and strike him with the jack handle.”
The victim “suffered facial fractures, a broken nose and continued eyesight problems from the attack.” Witnesses identified Godwin as the attacker and said the attack was unprovoked. Prior to the attack, a witness overheard Godwin say that “he was going to beat up and kill” the victim, according to court records.
Godwin was convicted of assault in 2019 in Dallas County District Court. He was convicted of assault in 2017 in Greene County District Court. Godwin was convicted on two counts of first-offense domestic abuse assault-use or display of a weapon in 2015 in Dallas County District Court. He was convicted of disorderly conduct-fighting or violent behavior in 2012 in Polk County District Court. A charge of assault against Godwin was dismissed in 2008 in Polk County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until and unless proven guilty.
