ROCK CAVE – A Rock Cave man was arrested Friday after he allegedly punched his mother in the face.

Brian Anthony Chidester, 26, of Rock Cave, was arrested for domestic battery third offense, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Dewaine Linger with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, Aug. 16, Chidester traveled to his mother’s residence located on the Rock Cave Road.

The file states he began arguing with his sister, and the victim, Chidester’s mother, attempted to intervene; however, Chidester allegedly punched his mother in the face. He then reportedly held a metal tool over his head and threatened to beat his mother in the head with it, “putting her in fear of receiving more injuries,” according to the complaint.

A neighbor, James Jones, heard the fight and came over to break it up. According to the report, Chidester fled away in a truck, spinning up the yard. Chidester has two prior convictions of domestic battery with dates of June 19, 2019 and April 10, 2013.

Domestic battery is a graduated offense, meaning the first and second offenses are misdemeanors but the third offense is upgraded to a felony.

Chidester’s bail was set at $75,000.

If convicted, Chidester faces a penalty of confinement in the state penitentiary for not less then one year nor more than five years, and the court may impose a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000.