A Fayetteville man was being held Friday on a $250,000 bond at the Fayette County Jail on allegations he beat his girlfriend with a hammer in front of his children because he wanted to teach her a lesson about stealing.

Morris Eugene Boyd III, 37, of 230 Merrydale Drive, was arrested on charges of probation violation and aggravated battery after his girlfriend, Cristal Young of Hapeville, filed a report with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

Accompanied by Sonya Strickland, executive director for Promise Place, an agency that helps battered women, Young met with a sheriff deputy at the Fayette County Courthouse. The deputy noted she had multiple bruises all over her body, including her face and hands.

"Ms. Young stated that at approximately 1 a.m. on June 12 her boyfriend, Morris Gene Boyd, came home and accused her of taking some coins from his coin collection," according to Sheriff's Department reports. "Ms. Young said that she told Mr. Boyd several times that she did not take any coins, but he just became increasingly more violent. Mr. Boyd then began to slap and hit with a closed fist Ms. Young in the face repeatedly."

Young told the deputy she later told Boyd she took the coins hoping the violent assault would stop, but Boyd allegedly continued to beat her.

During the attack, Boyd allegedly called his 11-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son into the room to witness the assault.

Young said Boyd allegedly told the children, "This is what happens to people that steal," as he continued to strike her. Boyd placed Young's hands on a table and hit them with a hammer several times, officials said.

Boyd was taken into custody shortly after a warrant was filed. At the time of his arrest, Boyd already was wanted by authorities in Illinois and Georgia for violating the terms of his probation.