Man pleads guilty to ramming Hummer into apartment
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007
A 24-year-old Springdale man who rammed his 2003 Hummer into the wall of a Fayetteville Housing Authority apartment building Nov. 30 pleaded guilty Thursday and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Jonathan Brett Butler, of 305 Maple Ave., Springdale, was sentenced by Fourth Circuit Judge Kim Smith to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with four years suspended. He was represented by Fayetteville attorney W. H. Taylor.
Butler admitted he was intoxicated when he rammed the Hummer into the building at 412 E. 12 th St. and knew there were people inside, including young children. There had been a dispute with a woman in the apartment prior to the incident.
Butler caused $ 11, 190 in damage, which is to be paid back to the Housing Authority within the next 30 days.
Deputy Prosecutor Bill Jones told the judge that a factor in the plea was that the victim in the case chased Butler with a broomstick and hit him with it before and during the incident. The children were located in the back of the home. Jones said there were no injuries.
After admitting to Smith to driving into the building, Butler pleaded guilty to firstdegree criminal mischief and aggravated assault. He originally had been charged with residential burglary, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of firstdegree criminal mischief and three counts of aggravated assault.
First-degree criminal mischief is a class C felony punishable by three to 10 years in prison and / or a $ 10, 000 fine. Aggravated assault is a class D felony punishable by up to six years in prison and / or a fine of up to $ 10, 000.
Butler probably will serve about one-sixth of the sixyear prison sentence until he is eligible for parole. He received credit for 107 days served in the Washington County Detention Center.
Taylor told the judge that his client has "an extensive psychiatric history. "He also said that Butler was psychologically evaluated and has a mental disorder.
While acknowledging the information about the mental illness, Smith said the fact that Butler was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident makes no difference in the law.
"You're just lucky that no one got hurt when you rammed that Hummer into the building," Smith told Butler.
Taylor asked that his client be allowed to delay being put in custody until June 1 in order to visit with his grandfather and aunt.
Smith allowed Butler to stay out until June 8.
Butler's father, Steven, said his son's aunt just got over cancer, and the relatives are visiting specifically to see Jonathan.
Jones objected to request, saying he believed Butler has had ample time to meet with relatives.
Butler's father said his son, who has been on an ankle monitor for the past few months, is staying with him.
Smith said he does not like to have people who abuse alcohol out before they go into custody because he is concerned about them drinking again.
Taylor explained that his client has been compliant while on the ankle monitor.
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