A Shreveport man whose trial was set to begin Wednesday, February 12, 2025, pleaded guilty just before proceedings were to begin in Caddo District Court.
Barkalski Clark, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of violence against his longtime dating partner, before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. One charge was aggravated assault of a dating partner, for which Clark could be sentenced to prison for up to five years at hard labor. The second charge to which he pleaded guilty, was battery of a dating partner with serious bodily injury, for which he could be sentenced up to eight years at hard labor. Sentencing is set to be March 12, 2025.
The violence of the first charge occurred June 13, 2023, when Clark physically attacked his long-time dating partner and brandished a knife during the assault. The woman had returned home to gather some personal belongings. Clark came from around the side of the house where he had been hiding. He followed the woman inside the home and began the attack.
The second and earlier attack occurred May 31, 2023, when Clark attacked the same woman, striking her multiple times in the face with a closed fist and knocking her to the ground. She suffered a broken nose and bruises all over her body.
The victim refused to participate in the prosecution, but the state obtained medical records and photos that would have allowed the trial to go forward, even without the victim.
Prosecutors, from the DA’s Special Victims Unit, were District Attorneys Britney A. Green and Ron Christopher Stamps. Clark was defended by Evan McMichaels.
The case was docket No. 402876.
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