Man charged following assault with baseball bat

BENTON, Mo. -- An Essex man was arrested after attacking a man with a baseball bat.

Robert L. Watkins, 53, is charged with the felony of second degree assault and armed criminal action following a disturbance on Sunday.

According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, a deputy responded to a residence in Diehlstadt where the victim stated he was at the residence getting his belongings from the pump house. Watkins reportedly struck the victim with a baseball bat across his back area at this time leaving the victim with a large red mark across his back, Walter said in a news release.

Watkins was later located by Miner Police Department on Matthews Lane in Miner. He transported to the Scott County Jail by deputies.

Watkins remains in custody at the Scott County Jail with bond set by the court at $15,000 cash or surety and cannot have any contact with the victim.