SSP Girl Accuses Stepfather of Assault, Mother Disputes Claims

A 31-year-old South St. Paul man is in custody after police say he intentionally poked his stepdaughter in the eye and smacked her with an open fist during a domestic dispute.

According to a Dakota County criminal complaint, William Michael McGee got into a fight with his stepdaughter over whether or not the girl would take her grandmother to the hospital.

At one point during the argument McGee allegedly approached the girl and told her he was going to "beat her ass" and then put his finger on her eyelid and pushed it into her eye.

Responding officers noted the alleged victim's eye to be red, watery and irritated.

According to the complaint, McGee then grabbed the girl's head and slapped her across the right side of her face. 

When questioned by police, the mother of the alleged victim said she was asleep at the time of the incident and did not see anything. 

The complaint states the woman later called police and told them her daughter was mentally ill and often exaggerates. She did say, however, she saw McGee poking her daughter's forehead multiple times as he lectured her before the alleged incident.

McGee is charged with felony domestic assault as the alleged incident is his third domestic violence-related offense within 10 years. 

McGee served 34 months in prison after being convicted of three counts of second-degree assault. He was also convicted of fifth-degree domestic assault in July 2002. 

If convicted of the latest offense, McGee faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.