Sikeston man jailed for striking juvenile

Man allegedly punched teen in mouth and caused him to fall through window

Donald Freeman

Donald Freeman

BENTON-- A Sikeston man faces domestic assault charges for striking a juvenile Wednesday in Scott County.

Donald W. Freeman, 42, of Sikeston is charged with the class C felony of domestic assault in the second degree, according to a news release from Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.

Officers responded Wednesday to a domestic assault in progress in Sikeston, according to the release. Deputies arrived and located a juvenile in the front yard and bleeding from his head, nose and mouth. The juvenile said he had been assaulted by Freeman.

According to the news release, the juvenile said Freeman was mad at him because the yard had not been mowed properly. The juvenile said he left the residence when Freeman charged at him with a closed fist.

The juvenile later returned to the residence, and he went inside where Freeman punched him in the mouth, the news release said.. The juvenile fell to the ground and was reportedly struck several more times by Freeman.

The juvenile said he went to stand up, and Freeman struck him again causing the juvenile to fall through a single-pane window and caused the juvenile to be scratched on his neck, the release said. The assault continued and Freeman placed the juvenile in a "choke-hold" nearly rendering him unconscious.

The juvenile was transported to a medical center and later released with a fractured nose and lacerations to his head and mouth.

Walter said when Freeman was asked about the assault, he said: "I punched him right in the mouth because there is only so much a person can stand." Freeman also admitted to striking the juvenile, the news release said.

Freeman placed under arrest and transported to the Scott County jail where she was booked pending the filing of formal chargers by the Scott County prosecuting attorney.

Freeman remains in custody at the Scott County Jail. Bond was set by the court at $10,000 cash and no contact with the victim.