PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A late-night domestic dispute turned destructive in Mercer County on May 19, 2025, resulting in the arrest of a Princeton man on domestic assault charges after he allegedly damaged his home and threatened violence during a drunken outburst.
At approximately 1:47 a.m., deputies from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, including Deputy J.P. Conner, Lt. G.C. Paitsel, and Deputy W.C. Morrow, were dispatched to a residence on Noble Circle following a 911 call reporting an intoxicated man destroying the house during a domestic incident.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered the suspect, Justin May, standing in the doorway. He admitted to drinking at home and then continuing at a bar before returning home upset. He told officers he became angry when his wife refused to take him to the store for more alcohol and then to a friend’s house. He denied becoming physical.
Inside the home, deputies observed a scene of destruction — a broken and overturned kitchen table, and several smashed household items scattered across the kitchen and living room. While one deputy spoke with the victim, the suspect became visibly agitated, stood up aggressively, and said twice that he wanted to go to jail. Deputies promptly placed him in handcuffs and secured him in a patrol vehicle.
Further investigation revealed the suspect threatened to strike his wife, adding that he would have done so if she were not pregnant. The victim reported feeling unsafe and said one of their two young children awoke crying during the incident. Another family member was also present in the home during the disturbance.
Photographs of the damaged property and an audio statement from the victim were collected as evidence. The suspect was formally charged with Domestic Assault, processed at the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and transported to Southern Regional Jail
