O'Fallon Man Charged With Beating Victim, Threatening With Knife

An O’Fallon man was arrested for beating a Wentzville man and holding a knife to his throat Wednesday.

Richard Lee Anthony, 45, of the 700 block of Bittersweet in O’Fallon, is being charged with unlawful use of a weapon and assault.

Wentzville Police said that Anthony was at 600 Wall Street in Wentzville when he punched the victim several times in the head, causing his kitchen chair to roll back and fall down three steps. While the man was laying on his back at the bottom of the stairs, Anthony punched him several more times, according to the police report. The victim told police he may have passed out.

A witness told police he saw Anthony pull out a knife and hold it to the victim’s throat. The witness called 911, and Anthony left the house. Police arrested him in front of the home. Anthony was drunk at the time, Wentzville Police said in the report.

Anthony had a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon in 2002. He received a suspended imposition of sentence and completed five years probation.