Man arrested, charged with felonies after allegedly assaulting girlfriend

MILAN – A man was charged with multiple felonies early Wednesday morning after he allegedly punched his girlfriend in the head multiple times.

According to a report from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and officers from the Perkins Police Department responded to the Best Budget Inn for a report of domestic violence.

When deputies arrived, according to the report, a woman said that, when she and her boyfriend, Marlin Decoteau Jr., 42, were at the Motel 6 in Milan Township, he struck her in the head multiple times with a closed fist. The report states that deputies observed injuries on the woman’s head. After being asked, according to the report, the woman said they went to the Best Budget Inn after they were kicked out of the Motel 6 for arguing. She added, according to the report, that Decoteau broke her phone, so she had to borrow a phone from someone at the hotel to call police.

According to the report, deputies and officers then spoke to Decoteau in his room. He claimed, according to the report, that the two were just friends and that he did not punch her.

Decoteau was then arrested. He is charged with Domestic Violence (F3), Assault (M1), and Violate Protection Order or Consent Agreement (F5).

Decoteau was charged with Violate Protection Order or Consent Agreement because the woman had an active civil protection order against him through North Dakota. The charge was elevated to a felony because Decoteau had four prior CPO violations in 2021, 2007, and twice in 2001. All of the violations were through through North Dakota.

The Domestic Violence charged was elevated to a felony due to Decoteau having three prior domestic violence convictions. Two were in 2021, and one was in 2020.