Aurther Salts, 47, Vienna, has been charged in Maries County with felony second degree domestic assault and the misdemeanors of second degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth degree assault.

These charges stem from a Sept. 29, 2021 incident when Sheriff’s Deputy Shannon Fannon took a report from the Missouri Department of Family Services, Children’s Division, which reported an incident at the Salts’s residence which may have been criminal in nature. 

Deputy Fannon took reports from the adults in the residence and had the juvenile interviewed at Kids Harbor Too in Waynesville. Following these interview and with further investigation, it was determined a crime had indeed been committed and Deputy Fannon applied for an arrest warrant for Salts. 

It is alleged Salts grabbed a female by the throat and pressed her against a refrigerator, choking her until she could not breath. A juvenile child of the victim and the adult sister of the victim came to her defense. The juvenile was thrown against the refrigerator, hitting his head, and the adult sister was told she would meet the same fate as the sister if she interfered. All three victims said Salts did not let go of the female he was choking until she stopped gasping for air and was near losing consciousness. 

On Oct. 23, Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony “Tony” Skouby filed the charges against Salts and Judge Kerry Rowden issued an arrest warrant and Salts was arrested.

Salts was in the county jail without bond. He was set for counsel status hearing Tuesday.