Kay County official suspended after domestic assault charge

Daniel Hesson, Kay County Director of Emergency Management, was arrested on May 21 and booked into the Kay County Jail on the charge of domestic assault and battery. He was released on $1,500 bond.

Hesson’s wife, Ashley, accused him of hitting her in the jaw during an argument that involved a phone. Hesson, meanwhile, told the Herald Journal he’s retained an attorney for pending litigation “because I don’t even honestly know what I’m exactly accused of. I just don’t have many answers myself.”

Hesson said he and his wife were discussing possible separate or divorce but things escalated into an argument when child custody was raised. “She left, then I’m accused of (domestic violence).”

According to Kay County Sheriff Steve Kelley, Hesson was served a protective order and then  suspended by Kay County commissioners seven days later, with pay, from his position until further notice. His first court appearance is Friday.

The arrest affidavit written by Kay County Sheriff’s Deputy Wathor provides details of what happened according to both parties.

Alerted by dispatch, Wathor said he contacted Ashley Hesson on May 21, at 11:22 p.m. in reference to a domestic situation on North Longwood in Kay County.

Wathor advised that he spoke with Ashley Hesson by phone and she stated that she and her husband, Daniel, had been going through problems and that they had been inquiring about a divorce. She and her husband had gotten into an argument and he physically took her phone from her hands and hit her in the jaw, causing a slight injury.

She told Wathor that she then left the residence and he locked her out. Wathor stated that Ashley Hesson told him she wanted to prosecute her husband for domestic assault and was concerned that their 3-year-old child was still at the residence.

Wathor went to an address on Roadrunner to speak with Hesson. The affidavit states that Hesson pointed to an area around her left jaw, near her mouth, and the deputy observed slight swelling and bruising.

She added that she had been physically assaulted in the past by her husband but had never reported it. She also stated that her husband had been drinking and that she knew something might happen.

Ashley Hesson said she had recorded on her phone from the time she had gotten home to the time of the incident. She stated that she had tried unsuccessfully to get her phone back from him and that she left the residence to go to her parents to call for help.

Wathor wrote that he then took photos of her injuries, completed the Domestic Violence Lethality Screen and gave her a domestic violence packet. He then left the residence to attempt contact Daniel Hesson.

Wathor wrote that he arrived at an address on North Longwood and made contact with her husband. Wathor said he asked him what had happened and he responded that they had been having problems with their marriage, and that he was trying to get them into counseling.

Hesson stated that his wife had been flipping out since yesterday when they spoke with the counselor, and that he had photos and videos of her behavior, and had been trying to get into his phone to access the videos.

He stated that after she had gotten home from work, she grabbed the baby monitor and started going through his phone. That was when they began arguing.

He stated that when he went upstairs to get his phone back, she attacked him, causing scratches on his left arm. It was shortly after that, he said, that she said she was going to “call the cops.” Wathor then asked him if he had physically taken the phone from her and he stated, “no, it was on the counter when he picked it up.”

Wathor then asked how she got the injury on her jaw. Hesson seemed surprised and stated he did not know and that he never hit her, according to the affidavit.

He stated that she had been accusing him of talking to other women, and that she believed he was cheating. Wathor asked him how the counseling was going and he stated that everything was going well until their session the day before, when she learned that he had her behavior recorded on his phone.

After taking his statement, Wathor informed Daniel Hesson that, due to the injuries that were consistent with her statement, he was placing him under arrest. He also took possession of the phone to turn it back over to Ashley Hesson.

Wathor escorted Daniel Hesson into the bedroom and observed that the child was asleep and unharmed. He then contacted Ashley to come back to the residence.

After placing Hesson into custody, Wathor wrote that he stopped his body cam from recording due to a low battery. He then waited for Ashley Hesson to come back and take custody of their child.

Once she arrived, he wrote, he put Daniel Hesson into his patrol car and returned Ashley’s phone to her. He also asked if he could see the video of the incident. She then pulled up the recording and Wathor said he observed what was only a voice recording. The recording only recorded the argument and had stopped prior to her husband taking the phone from her.

Wathor wrote that he transported Daniel to the Kay County Jail where, upon arrival, he photographed the injuries to his arm.