A former parliamentary candidate for the People’s National Party (PNP), Dr Jason Stanford, has been arrested and charged in the United States with domestic battery, child endangerment and attempting to prevent his wife from calling the police.

The charges stem from a March 1, 2026, incident at the couple’s home in Ouachita Parish, where deputies responded to a reported domestic disturbance.

According to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Stanford allegedly forcibly took his wife’s cellphone to stop her from calling 911. The woman also told investigators that during an argument the previous day, he threw her phone at her, striking her forearm. Deputies reported observing a bruise on the inside of her forearm.

She further alleged that during the March 1 incident, Stanford grabbed her by the neck. However, police said no visible bruising was observed on her neck.

After his arrest, Stanford reportedly admitted attempting to take the phone but denied trying to prevent a call to the police. He told officers he took it because he pays the bill and claimed his wife “didn’t deserve” the phone.

The couple’s teenage son told deputies he saw his father attempt to take the phone but did not see him grab his stepmother by the neck. Police said the incident occurred in the presence of the couple’s two young children.

Domestic battery and child endangerment are felony charges. Stanford was released on a US$6,500 bond on March 3.

Stanford previously contested the 2020 general election in the Western St Mary constituency for the People’s National Party, losing to Robert Montague of the Jamaica Labour Party by 3,382 votes. He later resigned as the PNP’s caretaker for the constituency in August 2021.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Stanford serves as chief executive officer of the MARSS Group of Companies and as vice-president of physics at the Northeast Louisiana Cancer Institute.