CALDWELL, Idaho — Middleton Mayor Darin Taylor denied abusing a family member during his initial appearance in court Monday afternoon, entering a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge of domestic battery.
Taylor, who was elected mayor in 2011, was arrested Saturday night and booked into the Canyon County Jail. He appeared in court via video arraignment, clad in an orange jail uniform.
According to Judge James A. (J.R.) Schiller, the charge stemmed from Taylor grabbing the family member by the arm or by her clothes the same day he was arrested.
Taylor's attorney noted that the mayor is a longtime resident of Canyon County and has no prior criminal record, asking the judge to release him on his own recognizance.
Schiller set bond at $2,000 instead, and ordered Taylor to have no contact with the victim.
"The victim indicated this was an ongoing problem," Schiller said. "She said it had been going on for years, so I am concerned about that."
The judge also ordered that Taylor could not use drugs or alcohol if he bonds out before trial, and must undergo testing for both substances.
The Canyon County Prosecutor's Office indicated that they will turn the case over to another agency to prevent any conflict of interest.
Taylor is set for a pretrial April 25. If convicted of domestic battery, he could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.