Man charged with assaulting member of Oconee County Democrats during holiday pizza dinner

A holiday dinner gathering for the Oconee County Democrats was disrupted Thursday evening when one of its members was assaulted by an angry restaurant patron, according to a report filed with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.

The assault occurred about 7:25 p.m. at Fully Loaded Pizza on Mars Hill Road, where more than two dozen party members gathered, including a potential candidate for a U.S. congressional seat and Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez.

Dan Matthews, a 58-year-old Watkinsville resident and former Watkinsville City Council member, said Friday he was the target of an unprovoked attack.

Deputies charged a 49-year-old Bogart man with simple assault.

Prior to the attack, Matthews said Friday that the Democrats were meeting in the restaurant's deck area when he said the man came onto the porch and Matthews asked him to leave through the front door.

Read more: https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/2021/12/17/man-accused-attacking-member-oconee-county-democratic-party/8941638002/