Steven Thayn's Son Arrested

State Representative Steven Thayn (R-Emmett), Idaho's self-appointed arbiter of family virtue who, according to the Idaho Statesman, "sees the breakdown of the traditional family structure as the root of societal ills such as drug abuse, crime and domestic violence,"  has been less than forthcoming about his own family problems. 

As head of the Idaho Legislature's Family Task Force, Thayn has held up his own traditional family as a model for combating societal ills such as domestic violence.  But while he has been "considering controversial solutions such as repealing no-fault divorce laws and finding ways to encourage mothers to stay home with their children," he has neglected to tell the public that earlier this year his own son was arrested for domestic violence.

Damon Mathias Thayn, the then-twenty-eight-year-old son of Steven Thayn, was arrested by Boise police and booked into the Ada County Jail on April 4, 2007, charged with domestic battery against his wife of seven months. 

According to the police report, the incident began as a verbal argument when Thayn's wife described someone she saw on T.V. as "hot," which according to Thayn's account, she does "just to 'irritate' him and 'piss him off' because she knows he is very jealous."

The argument escalated into a physical confrontation when, according to the wife's account, "Thayn grabbed her as they were in the living room and threw her to the ground."  He then "grabbed her by the arms and was shaking her and refused to let her go." 

The wife, weighing just 100 lbs., was struggling to get away from her 160 lb. husband and began screaming and yelling for help which prompted the neighbors in the apartment below the Thayns to call police.  Eventually she broke free and ran to the bedroom where she attempted to gather some things to leave the apartment.  Thayn followed, blocking her from leaving.  He grabbed her again, threw her on the bed and attempted to quiet her by holding her down and covering her mouth.

Thayn admitted to the events, telling police that he was so mad "he could not control himself."  Police observed marks on his neck and face where his wife had scratched him trying to get away and they also documented red marks up and down both of her arms and across her neck.  Police also observed that in the struggle pictures had been overturned, furniture had been moved and the T.V. had been knocked off the stand.

Court documents show that Thayn received a standard plea arrangement for a first offense.  He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, paid court costs and a fine and was required to attend anger management classes as a condition of probation.  It's unclear whether he spent time in jail or did community service.

It will be interesting to see Steven Thayn explain how this fits into his argument that domestic violence is caused by a breakdown in the traditional family structure.

[Big hat tip to 43rd State Blues blogger and long-time MGR reader Sisyphus.]

Comments

[Sara]

Ugh. Somehow I can't see Mrs. Thayn's situation being helped by reduced mobility and economic autonomy.

[sharon fisher]

whoa. that's amazing. good job ferreting that out.

[Sisyphus]

Statesman finally picks it up. Click my name. Now everyone has some hypocrisy to digest with their turkey. Good work MG.