King faces up to 40 years in jail
A local man could face up to 40 years in prison for cutting a teen-ager with a knife last year when the boy came to the aid of a woman in distress.
The defendant, Willie Bob King, 56, was convicted last week on two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated burglary and resisting arrest. The aggravated assault and burglary charges hold a minimum of three years apiece. As for the maximum sentence, King, who has a lengthy criminal record, could be looking at enhanced sentencing and consecutive sentencing, thereby costing him up to 40 years in prison.
The incident which led to his conviction occurred in July, 2002 when King broke into the house of his ex-wife, Kimberly King. The victim said her ex-husband broke out a window and entered her apartment, despite the fact there was an active restraining order against him. The victim recalled King then proceeded to choke her and throw her to the ground.
Her neighbor, Mattie Stewart, was awakened by Ms. King’s screams and came to her aid along with her 15-year-old son, Cody. An altercation then erupted between Mr. King and the rescuers. At some point during the brawl, Mr. King pulled a butterfly knife and slashed the teen across the midsection.
The victims then fled to Stewart’s apartment where King followed, kicking in the door and re-kindling the altercation, thereby committing his second aggravated burglary of the evening. The fight continued into the parking lot until police arrived.
At that point, King reportedly fled into a nearby field but was chased down by patrolman Robert Hutchins. The patrolman said King repeatedly resisted arrest, prompting him to wrestle the suspect to the ground in order to handcuff him. The resisting charge is the only misdemeanor on which King was convicted as the remaining four counts are felonies.
Neither the teen who was cut or Ms. King suffered life-threatening injuries. King will face sentencing Nov. 12.