4 New Madrid County residents facing felony assault charges

NEW MADRID -- Four New Madrid County residents face felony assault charges stemming from a 2014 beating of a Sikeston man.

Russell S. Wescoat of New Madrid is charged with two counts of felony assault charges in the second degree.

Sarah M. Wescoat and William Lee Wescoat Jr. of Matthews and Thomas W. Lawfield III of New Madrid are each charged with one count of felony assault in the second degree. Charges were filed Jan. 9 by Assistant Attorney General G. Brad Crowell.

According to the probable cause statement made Jan. 8 by Sgt. J.L. Wheadon of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, on March 31, 2014, New Madrid County Sheriff's Department Deputy Danny Ware took a written statement from a Sikeston man in reference to an assault that occurred at a party shortly after midnight March 29, 2014, at a shop in rural New Madrid County.

After the written statement was obtained, Wheadon said investigators interviewed several of the individuals who were at the party. Also information was obtained from the victim and other witnesses who were at the March 28, 2014, party.

Just after midnight, the Sikeston man observed a female passed out on the floor with several people tending to her. He made a comment about something similar happening at his wedding, according to the probable cause statement.

After he made that comment, Sarah Wescoat grabbed him by the throat and punched him, Wheadon wrote in the probable cause statement. Then numerous people began assaulting the man.

According to information that was provided the assault was broken up at least once inside the shop, and the man was assaulted a second time while inside. During these incidents inside the shop, Russell Wescoat assaulted the man twice and William Wescoat assaulted him twice, according to the probable cause statement.

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