A Mechanicsville man has been sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to Second-Degree Assault in a plea bargain with the state. The plea in January by Charles Jones, 50, came after a mistrial was declared during a jury trial in August of last year after a missing page in a police report was discovered during the trial by Jones’ attorney Kathleen McClernan.
Jones and a co-defendant Joshua Yates were charged in connection with an incident in June of 2012 in St. Inigoes in which Daniel Evans was pushed into a fire during an argument. Police alleged that Yates pushed Evans into the fire and held him while Jones punched and kicked him.
The original report from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office posted on the Bay Net said: “On June 19, 2012 deputies responded to an assault call on Point Lookout Road in St. Inigoes, Maryland. Upon arrival deputies made contact with the victim who sustained severe burns to his back. The investigation revealed that Joshua Joseph Yates, 23 of St. Inigoes, Maryland and Charles Bryan Jones, 48 of St. Inigoes, Maryland were involved in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into physical assault when Yates knocked the victim into a campfire and held him down while Jones kicked the victim.
“Yates and Jones fled the scene prior to the deputies’ arrival but were located a short time later and arrested. Both were charged with first and second degree assault. In addition, Yates was served with two outstanding District Court bench warrants for theft and destruction of property. Jones was also served with a Criminal Summon for violating the conditions of a protective order.
“Both Yates and Jones are currently being held without bond in the St. Mary’s County Detention Center.
“The victim was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital via ambulance.”
Deputy State’s Attorney Joseph Stanalonis represented the state at the original trial and at the sentencing hearing Friday before Judge Karen Abrams.
Judge Abrams, per the plea agreement, sentenced Jones to four years in jail but suspended all but a year. He will be on three-year’s supervised probation when released. The judge also authorized work release for Jones. She also ordered substance abuse treatment. He was given credit for 62 days he has served in jail on the offense.
Yates pled guilty to Second-Degree Assault on February 4th for the same incident and he was sentenced to five years in jail, with all but one-year suspended.
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