Intimidation case sentencing set

Monday, November 17, 2008

A Russellville man accused of pulling a knife on a woman and threatening to kill her will be sentenced Dec. 18.

Michael L. Smith, 30, is charged with two counts of Class C felony intimidation and one count of Class D felony domestic violence.

If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 19 years in prison.

Smith was in Putnam County Circuit Court Monday for a change of plea hearing. He originally pled not guilty to the charges at a pretrial conference on Oct. 21, and his bond was set at $25,000 cash. He has been in jail since his arrest.

According to court documents, police were dispatched to an incident in the 400 block of East 3rd Street, Russellville, shortly after 8 p.m. on Oct. 20.

The alleged victim told officers Smith had "pulled out a knife in front of her kids," court documents said. The alleged victim went on to tell officers that Smith had threatened to kill her and himself with the knife, which was described as a fixed blade knife approximately 5 inches in length.

The alleged victim also said Smith "grabbed her and pinned her down on the bed and stuck the knife to her leg and threatened to kill her," court documents said.

The altercation took place in front of the alleged victim's three minor children.

In December 2004, Smith was convicted of intimidation with a deadly weapon.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, felony charges of criminal confinement, theft and an additional count of intimidation with a deadly weapon were dropped.

He received a two-year sentence, and with time served and Indiana good time credit was released from jail in May 2005.

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  • It looks to me like this person is still doing what he has always done. I think the guy is mentally ill and should be incarcerated until a mental eval is done and he can safetly be in society with people who can control there emotions. Putting him in jail might not be the answer.

    -- Posted by wiggle wagle on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 12:01 AM
  • "Could be sentenced up to 19 years in prison..."

    I think they forgot the rest. It goes something like this: "...but the man will probably only do 1 year in a minimum security prison and 2 years probation, to be released to recommit the crime once again." Tragic.

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 11:17 AM
  • What is the deal with all the criminal court articles lately? I guess there really isn't anything more interesting going on in Putnam County.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 4:56 PM
  • I hate to sound like this, but I know the "victim" and she is not the victim she makes out to be. The only victims in this case is those poor children that has to go through this everytime she decides to change boyfriends.

    -- Posted by tabbie0658 on Wed, Nov 19, 2008, at 1:51 PM
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