On Thursday, September 3, 2015, HOWARD BRADLEY GOTT, d/o/b 7-24-1968, of Squires, Missouri, was found guilty by a Stone County Jury of assault in the second degree and armed criminal action. The six (6) man and six (6) woman jury deliberated for just over two-and-a-half hours before reaching the unanimous verdicts on the two (2) felony charges. Stone County Circuit Court Judge Jack Goodman scheduled sentencing for December 8, 2015.

The verdict relates to Gott’s assault of another man – who was fishing with Gott – at the Big Creek area of Bull Shoals Lake, in Taney County, near the Ozark County line. The evidence was that on March 13, 2014, Gott attacked the victim from behind, and stabbed the victim in the neck and chest multiple times before the victim could push Gott from the boat. Fishermen on the shore also witnessed the stabbing and called 9-1-1. The victim was able to be flown out to receive medical treatment, and Gott was arrested almost immediately.

Although the stabbing occurred in Taney County, the case was moved to Stone County on the defendant’s change of venue motion. Taney County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Yarnell prosecuted the case for the State. Assault in the second degree carries a maximum punishment of seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a $5,000.00 fine. Armed criminal action is an unclassified felony with a minimum sentence of three (3) years and no maximum sentence.