Man held on $500K bond following reports of violent assaults

Twelve charges, including nine felonies, were filed against a Fontanelle man after two incidents at his residence were reported.

Dalton J. Cormeny, 34, was taken into custody April 29 on an Adair County warrant charging him with three counts of willful injury causing bodily injury; two counts of dominion or control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon and four counts of dominion or control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a domestic abuse offender, all of which are Class D felonies. He was also charged with harassment, first degree; false imprisonment and assault causing bodily injury or mental illness.

Law enforcement was called to the Adair County Hospital after 4 a.m. April 14 for a victim wanting to file a complaint. The victim had bruises on both legs and a cut on top of their head which had been bleeding.

According to Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports, the incidents, began April 11, including Cormeny biting the victim in the ear. The victim said Cormeny begged them to lie to police so he would not go back to jail. Cormeny also moved a rifle to another room in the home before police arrived. That night, the victim told police everything was fine and went to a friend’s house to stay, leaving all their property at Cormeny’s residence. A deputy observed the victim to have a red mark on their face.

While at the hospital, the victim stated they had returned to Cormeny’s residence to gather their belongings. Cormeny arrived at the house, was very upset and began throwing things around the room and breaking glass items. The victim said they attempted to leave but Cormeny pulled them back twice, once by pulling the victim’s legs, causing them to fall.

While the victim was sitting on a mattress on the floor, Cormeny put both of his hands around the victim’s neck causing the victim to not be able to breathe and their vision blurring. After Cormeny let go and the victim began to “come to,” they noticed he had retrieved a bolt-action rifle from close by and moved it to a closet area.

The victim attempted to walk to the stairs again but was dizzy and lightheaded, and Cormeny got in the way to stop them. The victim had intercourse with Cormeny, thinking it would deescalate the situation and put Cormeny in a better mood or make him tired, providing an opportunity for the victim to leave. The victim said when Cormeny is told no or to stop he gets very angry and it would have made the situation worse.

Cormeny left the room and the victim continued to gather their things. When he came back into the room, he questioned the victim as to where they thought they were going, was upset and began throwing more things. Cormeny grabbed a box with items inside of it and hit the victim in the back of the head three times while they were hunched over. He then hit the victim in the head with a glass object, causing the victim to start bleeding.

Although Cormeny offered to take the victim to the hospital, he said if the victim told them what happened, they would be in trouble too and started hitting himself in the face multiple times. He also told the victim that if they told police and he went back to prison, he would burn the victim’s house down when he got out.

The victim then ran out of the house down the street to a friend’s house but passed out on the grass, completely losing consciousnesses on the way. Once at the friend’s residence, the victim was taken to the hospital for care.

Cormeny is a convicted felon, is the subject of an active protective order in Union County and has been convicted of domestic abuse assault.

Cormeny is being held in the Adair County Jail on $500,000 cash-only bond. His hearing for initial appearance is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. May 11, in Adair County District Court.