WAYNE COUNTY — A 32-year-old Wayne City man was arrested Monday morning on a charge of aggravated domestic battery after he reportedly broke his wife’s back when striking her with a baseball bat.

Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies, along with Illinois State Police, arrested Brandon M. Gregory early Monday morning.

They say he choked his wife and beat her with a baseball bat, breaking her back and one of her ribs.

Gregory was taken to the Wayne County Jail where he remains awaiting the formal filing of charges and the setting of bail.

At the time of his Monday arrest, Gregory was free on bond in an earlier case in which he’s charged with felony domestic battery with a prior conviction and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

He posted $2,000 cash bond in that case just a few days after his arrest.

He was next scheduled to appear September 20 for a pre-trial conference.