Gospel Music's James Fortune Arrested for Spousal Abuse

By Timothy Yap Nov 04, 2014 12:20 AM EST

Gospel music artist and worship leader James Fortune was arrested for domestic violence, allegedly hitting his wife with a barstool. He was booked on October 23rd, and posted the $20,000 bond the next day.

This is not Fortune's first brush with the law. He was charged with injury to child in 2002 for burning his stepson, who was four years old at the time, with scalding hot water. According to a lawsuit filed in 2012 by the child's father, Fortune put the child in a bathtub and allegedly held him there. Fortune pled guilty to the charge and completed a six-year deferred adjudication. That lawsuit was dismissed."

Speaking of the recent assault on his wife, Attorney Toni Jones says, "He's been charged with aggravated assault of a family member with a deadly weapon. And I believe that weapon is being alleged as a bar stool."

"I believe the Stafford PD were concerned at the time of the investigation interviewing her possibly leg or her pelvis may have been fractured or broken," Jones continued.

After the story broke Fortunes' lawyer Dorian Cotlar addressed the allegation of domestic violence on Fotune's Facebook page claiming that Jones was lying.

"Ms. Jones-Stroman's statement that she "believes" that Mrs. Fortune suffered either a broken pelvis or a broken leg is reckless and absolutely not true," he wrote, "I personally visited with her at my home on Sunday night. She displayed no injuries or signs of injuries whatsoever. Mrs. Fortune is also stating that her husband did not assault her."

When hearing of the alleged abuse people on social media immediately shared shock and disappointment. "Jesus.... They both need prayer so we have to keep them in prayer and their children," one write on Facebook. Others were not so forgiving, one wrote, "He needs more than prayer. He got a temper and just like any other abuser he needs to be dealt with."

Tags : James Fortune james fortune spousal assault james fortune news james fortune arrested gospel music news James Fortune and FIYA