Posted on 04/05/2007 2:43:06 PM PDT by Kimmers
Jurors convicted an 81-year-old woman of felony battery Wednesday for hitting a police officer with her cane.
Betty Chambers showed no reaction when the guilty verdict was announced, but outside the courtroom she used a newspaper to hide her face from cameras. "I'm sick of seeing my picture on TV! I've done nothing wrong!" she said.
The verdict came one day after a judge dropped a charge of resisting law enforcement against Chambers, who claimed she acted in self-defense.
Chambers could face six months to three years in prison when she is sentenced May 15 in St. Joseph Superior Court.
Chambers also is being sued by two officers who say they were injured when they went to her home south of South Bend to check on her welfare in February 2005.
When Cpl. Lonny Foresman and Detective Sgt. John Pavlekovich arrived, the woman's caretaker, Thomas Holleman, now 58, became argumentative and told them to leave, according to a police report.
Pavlekovich reported that Holleman resisted arrest and that Chambers began striking Foresman in the neck and head with her wooden cane. Foresman was diagnosed with a mild concussion, while Pavlekovich separated his shoulder while wrestling Holleman to the ground to handcuff him, the lawsuit contends.
The judge listened to testimony from both officers Tuesday and ruled that evidence showed Chambers did not directly struggle with Pavlekovich or injure him.
The battery charge involved Foresman's injury.
"I felt a bump on my head," Foresman testified. "I shook it off at first because I didn't know what it was. It was just a knock."
But then he felt a second and a third blow.
"That's when I was stunned," he said. "I knew I was hurting at that time."
Chambers, who is 5 feet tall and 100 pounds, testified that she acted out of self defense and feared Holleman would be killed.
"I have to protect my interests," Chambers said of Holleman. "If he's gone, I'm gone."
Holleman served 40 days in jail for the incident.
You set me up beautifully, and I thank you, my dear. :)
I can accept your apology, but you must go back and reread the whole thread as your punishment.
And remember. Always remember. It’s Chena’s fault.
So was your birthday as good as you wanted it to be? Sorry I didn’t get to wish you a happy day voice to voice.
Thank you, LEL. I’m not bad, I’m just norwegian.
‘Twas my pleasure I’m sure.
OK. I’m not sure anymore other than you and your trucks and your sleeping husband and cute babies and Windex and men in the windows.....what this thread was about....but I MUST log off now.
I say adieu to you.
:)
That was SO cool, T, so VERY cool.....I think I was (shhhhh) taking a nap when you called.
:)
Maybe she’ll grow up to look like you both...the best of both!
Sleeping your birthday away? That’s not good!
Aw, thank you. First-ever internet picture of her.
I’m doing okay...More caffiene than sleep, but I’m happy. :-) Mind the tornados while you’re down here, seems like we’ve been having a lot of warnings. How’s your work treating you?
Fleet of cars? Men dressed in black? Do you have a chauffer too?
And she hasn’t beaten you with your own baton yet? ;)
I hope she will...Her Dad’s not bad looking, but shaving every morning would get old real fast.
I don’t do windows either, but I wash them now and then.
G’night!
SSDD :) Oh, I sure hope the tornados stay away while I am there.
Don’t listen to her, miliantnutcaseyournameistoolongtoo. She has a window fetish and seems to get confused easily. Her fault, all her fault.
No, I keep her in her place. ;-)
I saw that.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! Thanks for the fun!
LOL! She’s beautiful, LEL, just beautiful. You are so blessed. Thanks for the fun chat tonight. I’m going to bed now too. :)
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