On Tuesday afternoon, December 8, 2015, Stone County Circuit Court Judge Jack Goodman sentenced Howard “Brad” Gott, d/o/b 7-24-1968, of Squires, Missouri, to consecutive sentences of seven (7) years for assault in the second degree and thirty (30) years for armed criminal action. Tuesday’s sentencing concluded the case resulting from Gott’s attack on a friend in his fishing boat in the area of Big Creek on Bull Shoals Lake, in Taney County, on March 13, 2014.

Gott was charged and tried for the crimes of assault in the first degree and armed criminal action, but the Stone County jury found Gott guilty of the lesser offense of assault in the second degree after hearing evidence in the trial. The evidence presented was that Gott attacked his friend from behind, and stabbed him 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.