A Warrenton man is being held at the Warren County Jail after he was arrested for an allegation of domestic assault in the presence of two young children.

Joseph J. Augusta Jr., 43, was arrested Sept. 9 by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, according to court records. Augusta is charged with second-degree domestic assault, along with two counts of child endangerment related to the same incident.

Augusta was arrested for an alleged assault that was reported at a home off of Schuetzenground Road, according to a sheriff’s department report submitted in court. A deputy was dispatched for an assault in progress shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9, according to the sheriff’s department.

Upon arrival, the deputy found one person with a cut above his left eye and a swollen, bruised face. He alleged that Augusta had become drunk and assaulted him after an argument had escalated. 

The victim described Augusta putting a hand around his neck and causing a struggle. Augusta allegedly pushed the victim by the neck over the top of a couch, then held him by the neck while continually punching his face.

The sheriff’s department alleges that two young children under the age of 10 were “within inches” of the fight, putting them in danger of physical injury and leading to the child endangerment charges.

After being taken to jail, Augusta allegedly made additional statements of violent intent toward the same victim, according to deputies, and repeatedly admitted to punching the victim in the face multiple times.

Deputies reported that Augusta is currently on probation for a previous domestic assault conviction from October 2021.

As of now, Associate Circuit Judge Nathan Carroz has ordered that Augusta be held at the jail without bond. He has a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 23.