Charges against an Opp man arrested in a 2014 assault were dropped this week based on a stand your ground defense.

Defense attorney Bill Alverson said Friday that he was able to establish that his client, Amos Lorrell Matthews, was defending himself when he stabbed another man in August of 2014 on Hardage Circle.

“Witnesses said that the alleged victim had beaten Amos with a chair before he responded,” Alverson said.

Circuit Judge Lex Short dismissed the charges in an order issued Friday.

Matthews originally was charged with assault, but later indicted by a Covington County grand jury on attempted murder charges.