VALPARAISO - A man is accused of attacking his girlfriend and his mother as they were driving to DeFuniak Springs.
On Dec. 3, Benny Harvard, 41, of DeFuniak Springs, was being driven home from the Okaloosa County courthouse annex in Shalimar by his mother. Harvard's girlfriend was also in the car.
During the drive, Harvard began fighting with his girlfriend, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest report. During the argument, he allegedly hit her on the lip and on her right ear. Then, he put his hands around her throat and tried to strangle her, the report said.
His mother tried to stop him, and Harvard grabbed her neck and pushed her. The car stopped and the girlfriend got out to escape Harvard, who was trying to remove his mother from the car.
His girlfriend had a swollen lip and ear, and redness on her neck. She told a deputy she is four months pregnant.
Harvard said he never put his hands on his mother, and that he grabbed his girlfriend's arm but didn't hit her or try to strangle her.
He was charged with battery, battery by strangulation, and aggravated battery - offender should have known victim was pregnant.
His court date is Jan. 29, 2013.