Trending
A New Matamoras man who pleaded guilty of felonious assault in the beating of his father with a metal baseball bat was sentenced to five years community control Tuesday morning.
Jerran Knowlton, 41, of 6658 Archers Fork Road, pleaded guilty Jan. 21 to the second-degree felony. He was indicted in February 2020 for attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault.
It was reported by the Washington County Sheriff's Office in January 2020 that Richard Knowlton, Jerran's father, was bleeding from his head after being beaten by his son.
At Knowlton's plea hearing, Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Jim Schneider said after he was arrested, the defendant was found incompetent to stand trial. Knowlton was held in a mental health facility in Columbus for about five months before he was deemed competent to stand trial.
"This is a unique and complicated case because of the family dynamics at play," said Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil during Tuesday's sentencing.
She said in this case, the state and the victim disagree as to the sentence, as the victim, Richard Knowlton, wished for his son to go free.
When given the chance to speak, Richard said his son needs help getting his driver's license and getting his life together.
"You don't know how to do anything," Richard told his son, noting he's always helped his son.
"I've done it his whole life. He got to need help."
He told Washington County Common Pleas Judge John Halliday Jerran had been in jail long enough.
"This was a very serious and brutal crime," Coil said. "There is no disputing that Mr. Knowlton is lucky to be alive after the beating he took. The defendant and his father obviously love each other very much, but they also have a very troubled and toxic relationship."
She said Jerran was on prescription medications and had low blood sugar at the time of the assault, which were contributing factors.
"Because of these factors, the state is going to be asking for less time than it ordinarily would in a case such as this," she said.
She noted her office has three other cases pending which involve assaults and baseball bats.
"I don't want there to be any misperception by the community that these cases are more acceptable than other assaults with deadly weapons," she explained. "Baseball bats certainly can be deadly and especially when they are struck at a person's head.
The defendant struck his father up to 12 times including his head, and he only stopped when his body was lifeless.
The registered nurse said the back of his head felt like mashed potatoes."
Defense attorney Ray Smith said it was a tragic case, but he's been in touch with both Richard and Jerran Knowlton during the 14 months Jerran has been incarcerated.
"I believe the best thing for Mr. Jerran Knowlton is that he goes to STAR and successfully complete the STAR program, which he is eligible for," he said
STAR Community Justice Center, located in Franklin Furnace, is a correctional facility which is an alternative to prison with the primary purpose of rehabilitation.
Jerran said he was sorry it happened and he felt ashamed.
"You know, and I just, I want to get better now. I am getting better. I feel a lot better," he told Halliday.
Halliday told him the court has a significant concern about Jerran being in the community without continuity of care.
"It seems to the court that your treatment and your compliance with treatment seems to fall in line with when you don't have problems and when you go off treatment," he said.
He ordered that Jerran remain at the Washington County Jail until the first bed opens at the STAR recovery center.
"You're going to complete the STAR program as part of the terms of your residential sanction," he added. "So you'll receive credit for 414 days plus the days awaiting your transport to STAR."
Jerran was then sentenced to a period of five years of community control.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.