Man gets 90 days for theft, assault
A local man who snatched an elderly woman’s purse from her home while she slept and later slugged a sheriff’s investigator will serve 90 days behind bars.
The defendant, Lespaul Beddingfield, 25, entered guilty pleas before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross Tuesday to charges of assault on an officer and theft. He was directed to serve 90 days of an 11-month, 29-day sentence with the balance of his term to be spent on supervised probation.
His sentence comes after he walked into the home of an elderly neighbor on Viola Road last month and stole her purse. The woman, who awoke during the suspect’s intrusion, caught a glimpse of him as he bolted out the door. The purse contained personal items which included a cell phone and numerous medications. She contacted lawmen, who were given information he might be heading toward the West Main Street area.
Sheriff’s investigator Jim Hartman found the suspect inside Hardee’s minutes later and attempted to question him. However, an altercation broke out between the two which spilled into the parking lot. Beddingfield reportedly punched and kicked the officer and ran into a nearby wooded area above Riverfront Park. Beddingfield was captured minutes later following a foot pursuit around the park.
In addition to his jail time, Beddingfield must make $281 restitution and pay a $50 fine.