LONGTIME WCHS-TV REPORTER AARON ATTACKED IN CLAY COUNTY - Photographing Alleged Animal Abuse

(07/08/2014)
Longtime WCHS-TV reporter Bob Aaron was attacked by a Clay County man while Aaron was on a public road filming a story about possible animal abuse to horses and mules.

State Police have arrested Howard Jeffery Lilly (left) and charged him with destruction of property, grand larceny and malicious wounding. He is being held in Central Regional Jail.

Aaron sustained injuries to his leg and finger and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

"He came up off of his property onto the roadway," Aaron said.

"And before we could have much of a conversation further about it he came at me grabbed the tripod and starting hitting me with it. He broke the camera and gave me a couple of pretty good shots before we left."

Aaron said there is no doubt he had a right to be at the public location.

Lilly took the tripod to his house.

WCHS-TV says they will return to the property to investigate the alleged abuse to the animals.