JC man sentenced to 14 years on assault charge

A Jefferson City was sentenced to 14 years in prison for pleading guilty to first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action for the stabbing of a woman in January.

Steven Vaughan, 46, of 211 Ash St., admitted to cutting a female relative with a knife during a fight.

The woman told police that she and Vaughan had been arguing, but that she had told him she'd had enough and was going to call the police. While she tried to call 911, Vaughan took the phone from the woman and then broke a window by throwing another cellphone through it.

According to police reports, Vaughan later grabbed a folding knife and threatened to cut the woman's throat. He stood behind her as he wrapped his arms around her while holding the knife.

She eventually ended up with cuts to one of her hands and one of her thumbs.

After cutting her, Vaughan and the woman continued to argue before eventually determining she needed to go to the emergency room.

Vaughan told her they needed to come up with a story that she was accidentally cut with a knife. But the woman told a nurse that Vaughn had cut her, and police officers were notified.

When questioned, Vaughan said he accidentally cut her hand while making a sandwich to take to work.

Court records show Vaughan had a prior second-degree assault conviction for assaulting the same woman.