The Jasper County prosecutor’s office dropped a felony domestic assault charge against a Joplin man Wednesday because of an inability to locate the alleged victim to testify against him.
William K. Smart, 28, 2218 S. Porter Ave., was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court in Joplin on a charge of second-degree domestic assault related to an incident Dec. 29, 2009, at his home.
Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Fischer said the charge was dismissed when Smart’s girlfriend failed to show up to testify at the hearing. Fischer said the prosecutor’s office has been unable to locate her for the prosecution of Smart’s case.
The defendant was accused of grabbing the girlfriend by the neck and choking her after throwing a butter knife across a room at her and pushing her down.
