An Edgewood man is being held without bail after turning himself in on charges of second-degree assault and violating a protective order.

Rodney Dion Williams, of the 1800 block of Simons Court, pleaded with District Court Judge Mimi Cooper to be lenient during his bail review hearing Friday afternoon.

According to David Henninger, his lawyer, Williams, 32, turned himself in on a warrant for the charges and contacted Henninger quickly.

Williams told Cooper that when he got home from serving a jail term about three years ago — it wasn't said on what charges he was incarcerated for — he obtained a job and has been working there ever since. He referred to the opportunity as "a second change job for an ex-con."

Emotional, Williams continued to say he's trying to take care of his son the best he can, as well as breed his bulldog.

"It's [being detained] hurting because I've never had a job this long," Williams said. "I just don't want to lose it."

Henninger added that Williams' job was set up for him by the state correctional system.

The mother of Williams' son, Jessica Williams, was present to defend his character.

Jessica Williams said she was the alleged victim in this case, but Rodney Williams was not the one to blame for the incident which led to the charges against him.

She went on to say that the incident, a dispute at a restaurant that occurred Feb. 18, was brought on by a third party, a friend's ex-sister-in-law.

"The whole thing escalated," Jessica Williams said. Her tires, as well as her friend's, were allegedly "slashed" by this woman, she continued.

Jessica Williams said her son's father has continually paid child support and helps to take care of their son.

"I'm not fearful of him," she said. "I haven't had any problems with him."

Assistant State's Attorney Dair Pillai stressed to Cooper that Rodney Williams has prior assault charges, as well as charges on a violation of a protective order.

Cooper told Rodney Williams that after considering the facts of the case and everything Jessica Williams and Henninger said, as well as how well he's been doing since being released from jail, she was still ordering him held on no bail because "you're not given one chance to punch somebody, even if your life has been perfect, and your life hasn't been perfect."

Explaining the only predictor she about how he would behave if released was his past record, Cooper told Rodney Williams she had no reason to believe Jessica Williams or "the rest of us [the community] would be safe if you were released."

"Your past is really bad," she added.

Rodney Williams remained in jail at the Harford County Dentation Center late Tuesday afternoon.