Trial to begin Wednesday in beating case

By SARAH LIPPS

Staff Writer

Jury selection is set to begin Wednesday morning in the trial of a Greencastle man accused of beating another man in the head with a golf club.

Kent Jermaine Jackson, 31, will face charges in Putnam Circuit Court of battery by means of a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious bodily injury for the June 8 beating of Bobby Coffey, Greencastle.

Witnesses of the alleged incident at 208 W. Walnut St., Jackson's home, told police an argument which had begun earlier in the evening at the Castlebury Estate Apartments escalated shortly after midnight.

Detective Randy Seipel with the Greencastle Police told the BannerGraphic the day after the incident that witnesses said they were let into Jackson's home before the alleged beating took place.

"The witnesses said (Jackson) was unprovoked," Det. Seipel said at the time.

Coffey was taken to Putnam County Hospital then transferred to Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, where he stayed for several weeks.

Jackson was booked into the Putnam County Jail after his arrest and remained in PCJ custody until Dec. 7, when he was released. Jail book-in records list the reason for his release as "time served". In January, Jackson was back in the Putnam County Jail for failing to appear in court. He served five days at that time.

Past convictions for Jackson include Intimidation, battery and criminal recklessness. He has been booked into the Putnam County Jail 25 times since 1995.

Jury selection has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday with Judge Matthew Headley presiding.