'Ice Road Truckers' Star Gregory Boadwine Arrested for Beating Wife
It seems as though History Channel reality television stars are a little less likely to find themselves in trouble with the law. Well, unless you're Gregory Boadwine. Arrested early Friday for allegedly beating his wife, the Ice Road Truckers star is now facing domestic battery charges.
One wonders whether he should face charges for psychologically damaging his child as well.
For those who don't partake in the History Channel's comparatively upscale reality programming, Ice Road Truckers follows a group of drivers hired to haul essential supplies across the dangerous and treacherous frozen lakes in Northwest Canada.
Even though this task can keep him away from his family for months at a time, the Hollywood Reporter reports Gregory Boadwine has still found time to batter his wife.
Boadwine and his wife were arguing when he elbowed her in the arm. A physical fight ensued, including shoving, slapping and throat-grabbing, according to the Reporter's source.
The altercation only ended when their 9-year-old son screamed at them to stop.
Classy.
It's clear from these alleged facts that Gregory Boadwine is being charged with domestic abuse, but what about child abuse?
Countless studies have shown that witnessing abuse can be psychologically damning to a child. However, it isn't often that witnessing abuse transforms into being abused.
While in many states it is illegal to seriously and emotionally harm a child, that harm usually must be intentional or a result of negligence. If domestic abuse purposefully occurs in front of a child, it might be child abuse, but if the child walks in on it, it's probably not.
Because it's unlikely that they intentionally fought in front of their son, Gregory Boadwine, arrested for domestic abuse, will not likely be charged with child abuse.
6/6/2011 Editor's Note: The second paragraph has been changed to better pose the question of whether Mr. Boadwine might face child abuse charges.
Related Resources:
- Ex 'Ice Road Trucker' arrested for allegedly beating wife (Today)
- Child Abuse (FindLaw)
- Domestic Violence (FindLaw)
- 'Pawn Stars' Corey 'Big Hoss' Harrison Arrested for Battery (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
