Plea entered in battery case

EAU CLAIRE — An Eau Claire man charged with repeatedly striking a woman with a handgun was arraigned Wednesday.

Quentin Wilson, 37, faces charges of second degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a firearm by a felon, substantial battery, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, disorderly conduct and bail jumping. Each of the charges has a modifier for being a repeat offender, and the battery charge also has modifiers for using a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse.

The most serious charges are Class G felonies, which carry up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $25,000. The modifiers can enhance prison sentences, though the amount of the increase depends on the length of the sentence.

According to the criminal complaint, police went to an apartment in Eau Claire at about 12:45 a.m. on April 23 after a report that a man in the residence had a gun and had struck someone with it.

Witnesses said Wilson and a woman had been arguing off and on for several days before the incident. A search of the apartment turned up several 9 mm rounds in the cushions of a couch. Police found what court documents describe as a “ghost gun” without a serial number.

When police spoke with the woman, she said she had fallen asleep on the couch and awoke to Wilson standing over her, yelling. He struck her multiple times, both in that room and as she attempted to get away from him. Large bruises on her head and defensive cuts on her hands backed up her account.

Wilson has pleaded not guilty. A status conference is scheduled for Nov. 12.