Jefferson City man gets 10 years for assaulting woman

A Jefferson City man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for an assault on a woman at a Jefferson City hotel in February 2016.

Sylvester Vernell, 49, of 309 Case Ave., was taken into custody by a Fulton police after fleeing from the Capital City.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic assault, and a rape charge in the case was dismissed.

Officers were called to the the 1100 block of Madison Street, according to Jefferson City police.

The victim said she was with Vernell at the Best Western Hotel on Christy Drive. Vernell tried to remove her clothes then forced himself on her, and the two ended up on the bathroom floor, where Vernell had sex with the victim against her will.

The victim also told authorities Vernell had assaulted her over a three-day period by choking, kicking and hitting her with his hands, as well as a bat. Vernell also forced her to take Xanax.

The victim had visible bruises on her face neck and body, a fractured rib, swelling on her brain and a punctured lung.

Vernell has two prior domestic violence convictions.