BENTON, Mo. -- Former Missouri House speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, is accused of attacking and injuring a woman last month.  The Scott County prosecuting attorney charged Jetton with felony assault on Monday.

The charge says Jetton "recklessly caused serious physical injury" by "hitting her on the head, and choking her, resulting in unconsciousness and the loss of the function of a part of her body."  In a detective's probable cause statement used as the basis of the charge, the woman said the attack was at her home in Sikeston after she blanked out after drinking wine that Jetton poured for her.

The woman said she and Jetton had never dated or had a relationship before the night of Nov. 15 when Jetton came to her house after a conversation earlier in the day about having sexual intercourse.  She told the detective that, before she blacked out that night, she and Jetton agreed on a safe word of "green balloons" to use to stop intercourse. 

The woman told the detective, that when she was conscious, she "recalls Mr. Jetton hiting her on the face very hard . . . remembers waking up; lying on the floor and Mr. Jetton was choking her. . . recalls waking up and Mr. Jetton was behind her having intercourse in the bedroom . . . said Mr. Jetton stayed the night with her and when he woke up he gave her a kiss and said, 'You should have said green balloons.'  . . . remembers being very sore."  The detective wrote that investigators saw bruises on the woman's thighs and breast.

The Sikeston Police Department would not comment on the case to a reporter on Monday.  It referred questions to the Sikeston city attorney, who wasn't in the office on Monday afternoon.

Attorney Stephen Wilson of Cape Girardeau, who represents Jetton, says his client is not guilty and will "vigorously defend" himself against the charge.

Jetton, 42, was elected speaker of the Missouri House in 2005. He left the House after the 2008 session because of term limits and now works as a consultant.  Marble Hill is about 36 miles northwest of Sikeston.

Jetton and his wife, Cassandra, got a divorce in October, four months after Jetton filed for one.

Jetton turned himself in to the Cole County Sheriff's Department on Monday night after the Scott County Sheriff's Department sent its warrant to Jefferson City.  Jetton posted a $2,500 bond.  His first court appearance in Scott County is scheduled for Jan. 6. 

"Mr. Jetton was shocked and surprised when first advised of the allegation made against him," Wilson's written statement says.   "Now that a complaint is filed in court, Mr. Jetton's only comments are that he is not guilty, and will vigorously defend this allegation in court and not in the media."