Assault case settles before going to trial

An assault case stemming from a dispute between co-workers in 2007 settled on Monday before the case was scheduled to go to trial Tuesday, officials said.
Robert Owen Brown, 35, with a listed address of 725 Franklin 60, Russellville, was originally charged with second-degree assault after being accused of hitting a co-worker over the head with a metal pole, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.
According to records, the incident took place at Pilgrim’s Pride in 2007 and Brown was indicted in 2008.
Rushing said the case was technically the oldest one on the criminal trial docket but had been delayed because officials had been unable to locate Brown to arrest him on the charges until they finally found him in 2011.
Rushing said Brown’s defense attorney, Rebecca Thomason, alleged that while the two men were working at Pilgrim’s Pride, the victim in the case hit Brown with a live chicken, which caused the incident that led to the victim’s injuries.
However, Rushing contended Brown had been angry with the victim for weeks and assaulted him without provocation.
“We believe Mr. Brown came up to our victim while he was eating in the break room and hit him over the head with a big, metal pole and seriously injured him,” Rushing said.
Rushing said the case was set for trial Tuesday but after speaking with the victim through an interpreter on Monday, both parties were able to reach a settlement without having to go to trial.
Rushing said Brown pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault and received a one-year sentence that was suspended for two years contingent that Brown have no contact with the victim and that he pay for the victim’s medical expenses associated with the injury.
“After the victim agreed to the terms, we felt this was a good outcome in this case,” Rushing said.
“Mrs. Thomason did a great job preparing her case, but we’re always glad when we can come to a settlement and have everyone satisfied with the result.”