Gainesville man arrested after reported domestic assault, threat to ‘eliminate’ victim

Craig S. Rhoads, 65, of Gainesville, was arrested Jan. 5, in a case in which he’s charged with third-degree domestic assault, a class E felony. 

He was released two days later on a personal surety bond, also known as “on his own recognizance” or an OR bond. That means the court takes his word that he was appearing for his scheduled hearings. The conditions of the release are that he does not consume alcohol, drugs, recreational marijuana, have contact with the victim and other typical conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court before Associate Judge Raymond Gross at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 30. 

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Deputy Jeff Lane, at 5:58 p.m. Jan. 3, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department dispatch office received a report from a woman who said she was physically assaulted by her ex and had sustained injuries. 

Lane and Deputy Vesa Phelan met with the victim at the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office. “She was crying and visibly shaking. She had visible marks on her face and neck,” the report says. 

The woman told the officers that her ex-husband, who she lives with, assaulted her after becoming agitated with her for not bringing home certain items from the store. She said Rhoads pushed her against the wall, smacked her across the face several times and hit her in the stomach. She said he then said, he didn’t know what he was going to do with her and maybe he should just “eliminate her.”

The woman left the residence and contacted the sheriff’s department before going to an area emergency room to be checked out by medical personnel. 

Lane, Phelan and OCSD Sgt. Seth Miller went to the residence to speak with Rhoads. The officers asked him about the altercation, and he said “they had an argument and he grabbed [the woman] by the shoulders, put [her] against the wall and stated, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.’” the report says. 

He then told officers the woman had no injuries and that he never touched her. 

“We informed [Rhoads] of the victim’s injuries and placed him in custody for domestic assault third degree,” Lane wrote.