Argument at Marion home ends with teens hurt, adults arrested

Two teenage girls were taken to a hospital by ambulance when an alcohol-fueled argument erupted inside a Marion home Sunday night, police said.

According to the police, the argument began while Jontese L. Ware, 31, and his girlfriend, Shannon J. Butterbaugh, 35, were supplying alcohol to Butterbaugh's 15-year-old daughter and another 14-year-old girl at their residence, 351 Neta Drive.

Ware allegedly assaulted Butterbaugh and then punched her daughter in the face, police said. As the argument continued, the 14-year-old cut herself in the stomach with a kitchen knife, because "she wanted everything to stop," according to the police report.

"I'm sure that alcohol was a contributing factor to all this," police Lt. Scott Elam said.

The girls, whose names were not released, ran from to another mobile home at 405 Ben Dov Drive for help. A person who lives there called police around 9:45 p.m.

Officers found both girls intoxicated, and they were taken to a Cedar Rapids hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said. Ware and Butterbaugh were taken into custody back on Neta Drive.

Ware was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault, assault with injury, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and interference with official acts. Butterbaugh, who had a warrant out for her arrest, was cited for public intoxication and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police searched the home at Neta Drive and recovered a blood-stained towel and the knife that was used in the self-inflicted cut, Elam said.

The police report does not indicate what started the original argument.