Pregnant Woman Recants Story About Drill Attack

BAY CITY (WWJ/AP) - A pregnant Michigan woman who accused her boyfriend of attacking her with a power drill has recanted what she told police.

Authorities downgraded the felony assault charges against 23-year-old Jermaine Perkins, who earlier this week pleaded guilty to attempted possession of Xanax and domestic violence, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days behind bars.

Bay City police earlier said that 19-year-old Tyresha Humphrey told them that her roommate, Perkins, slapped and kicked her, punched her in the stomach and cut her arm with a Black & Decker cordless drill on Dec. 15. Police noted in their reports that Humphrey, who was five months pregnant at the time, had two puncture wounds to her left arm.

When Humphrey was interviewed a second time by police, she added that Perkins had also pinned her down and forced her to swallow Xanax pills, hoping that would force her to have a miscarriage. When Perkins was arrested, police noted that he had a bottle filled with several Xanax pills in his pocket.

At Tuesday's trial, Assistant Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks and defense lawyer Robert J. Dunn said Perkins didn't use a power tool in the attack. They say Humphrey wrote a letter recanting her version of events.

Perkins said what actually happened on the night of Dec. 15 was he came home to find Humphrey and a neighbor getting high on Xanax, Mlive.com reported. Perkins claimed he was afraid that his pregnant roommate might overdose, so he put the pills in his pocket. He also grabbed Humphrey by the arm, in an attempt to take her to the hospital for help. Perkins said Humphrey responded aggressively and told him to let go of her arm, but he wouldn't.

Perkins, who originally faced four-years behind bars, is free on bond ahead of sentencing Feb. 25.

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