Gillette man arrested for battery and child abuse

A Gillette man has been charged with felony counts of child abuse and domestic battery after allegedly becoming violent with one adult and one juvenile victim at Sand Creek Campground.

On June 15 at around 5:20 p.m., a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to Sand Creek Campground for a reported domestic dispute involving Michael Andrews threatening to “stab and slit someone’s throat”, according to court reports.

The deputy spoke with two alleged victims, one of whom was under 12 years old. The deputy observed lumps and scratches on the older victim’s head, as well as down her chest and arms.

The older victim claimed to have received these from Michael Andrews, describing him as becoming “belligerent and violent” while they were attempting to protect the younger victim.

Andrews allegedly “grabbed, shook and dragged” the younger victim after they were lost on the creek. When the older victim intervened, he allegedly began to strike them on the head and face before they could escape and run to the safety of other campers.

The younger victim corroborated this story.

Andrews has two previous known convictions in Campbell County for domestic battery in 2017.