A man charged with first-degree assault in relation to an altercation that occurred in the Christian County Jail is having his case sent to the grand jury following a preliminary hearing in Christian District Court Wednesday morning.
Captain Bryan Rives with the jail testified to the incident, saying that 39-year-old Cortes Thornton of Mayfield—an inmate in the jail—allegedly wrapped an electronic tablet in some type of cloth and then struck another inmate in the head, causing an injury that required treatment at Jennie Stuart Medical Center.
Captain Rives says the victim required surgery, including a blood transfusion, and an overnight stay at the hospital.
There is video footage of the incident. Defense attorney Michael Cotthoff argued that the charge should be fourth-degree assault, maybe second-degree, because he’s not sure the injuries or the method of attack qualify for the first-degree charge.
District Court Judge Lindsey Adams denied that request and sent the case before a Christian County Grand Jury for consideration of indictment.