December 20, 2009 Man gets jail for attack on court officer www.privateofficer.com
Joel Martinez, 32, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury Thursday of fourth-degree assault on Jessie Switzer, a courthouse security officer for the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.
Switzer took Martinez into custody in July at Grandview Municipal Court, where the county also holds District Court hearings, after discovering that he had a warrant for his arrest.
The handcuffed Martinez became upset after a piece of paper dropped from his pocket, so he began walking away from Switzer despite orders to stop, according to charging documents.
Switzer then tried to take him to the ground, but his leg snapped near the ankle after he backed into a column during the tussle with Martinez.
Switzer held Martinez on the ground until other officers arrived.
Martinez was originally charged with second-degree assault or, as a lesser alternative, third-degree assault, a felony charge reserved for typically minor assaults on police and other officials.
Martinez would have faced up to 16 months in prison under the third-degree charge, deputy prosecutor Duane Knittle said.
The second-degree charge was complicated by the fact that Switzer said he likely wouldn’t have broken his leg if the column wasn’t there.
However, Judge Michael McCarthy agreed with a defense request to include the misdemeanor fourth-degree charge as another option for the jury.
Switzer remains on light duty, with another medical review scheduled in three months. He said Friday that the bones have not healed even after surgery to install a metal rod and several screws in his leg.
Martinez has a criminal history dating back to juvenile court, including several arrests for resisting or obstructing police.
Tags: Joel Martinez, yakima washington
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