Man alleged to have hit, choked and threatened a woman with a knife while she was holding a child

Gainesville resident Andrew Brandt Clay has been charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with a March 4 incident.

The first-degree assault charge is a class B felony, the second-highest level felony charged under Missouri law. If convicted of that charge, he could face 5 to 15 years in prison. 

According to the probable cause statement prepared by Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen A. Ator, Clay carried a knife readily capable of lethal use in an angry and threatening manner and threatened to stab the victim. 

The statement says he hit, choked and threatened a child’s mother with the knife while the woman held the child in her arms. 

Online court records do not show when Clay’s next court appearance is scheduled, but Ozark County Jail records at press time indicate that he’s been held in custody there.