Pontiac man charged after reportedly giving woman black eye, other injuries

Jeffrey Pine, 35, of Pontiac is being held in the Ozark County Jail without bond after a grand jury indictment was filed on Aug. 16, charging him with two counts of domestic assault and tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution. 

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Rhoades, he was dispatched to a call of a domestic assault at a residence on W Highway around noon Aug. 14. 

Rhoades writes that he made contact with the woman once he arrived, and he saw that she had a black eye on her left eye and visible marks and bruises on both arms, along with abrasions on her neck that were consistent with being choked. 

The woman reportedly said Pine pushed her to the ground and slapped and choked her two days earlier, causing the black eye, bruises on her elbows and choking marks on her neck. 

She said then earlier that day, she’d tried to run away from him, and he tackled her to the ground in the gravel driveway, causing bruising on her right knee. She said he slapped her again and ordered her to go back inside the house. 

The victim was able to get her cell phone and text a friend, who then called the 911 dispatch line. 

“Jeffrey has told her several times and has made it understood that if she ever went to law enforcement to report the abuse, he would kill her. She is in fear for her life. The female desired prosecution,” Rhoades wrote. 

Rhoades said that there was a short stand off at the residence, but ultimately Pine exited the home and was taken into custody. He was read his Miranda warning, and he reportedly told the officer that he did not want to incriminate himself and that there was more to the incident than just him striking her. 

Pine was arraigned before Circuit Judge Craig Carter and pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled to return for a pre-trial conference at 9 a.m. Sept. 7.