No jail time in knife incident at local club

By Brian Smith
Register News Writer

July 09, 2009 07:58 am

— A man accused of throwing a pocketknife through a window at a downtown Richmond nightclub pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and has been barred from the club.
John Dustin White, 23, of Leimaur Drive, Richmond, had initially been charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief, but Madison County Attorney Marc Robbins agreed to amend the endangerment charge to a second-degree misdemeanor charge.
White was arrested on June 6 after he was ejected from the Manhattan Club on E. Water Street around 12:30 a.m. for allegedly being involved in a disturbance.
After being ejected, White threw an open pocketknife through a window near the front of the club, sending shards of glass flying into the club and covering several people, Richmond police said after his arrest.
White was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but the time is probated for two years on the conditions that he commit no additional offenses and stay off the club’s property.
Restitution for the broken window has already been made, Robbins said.
Mother sentenced
A Richmond mother who was charged with wanton endangerment after police found her 2-year-old son wandering around their apartment complex pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and received a suspended sentence.
Jennifer Ann Miller, 37, was initially charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia for the April 30 incident at her N. Third Street apartment, but pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree wanton endangerment and the paraphernalia charge as part of an agreement with Robbins.
As part of the agreement, Miller’s 120-day jail sentence is probated for two years if she does not commit another offense and complies with Madison Family Court orders in the case.
VanWinkle continued
A preliminary hearing for Jaclyn VanWinkle on rape charges was continued amid confusion over whether the public defender’s office would be representing her.
VanWinkle had indicated to Senior Judge David Hayse at her arraignment that she would be hiring a private attorney despite applying for a public defender.
In court Wednesday, however, VanWinkle told Hayse she was unable to retain an attorney and asked the public defender’s office to represent her.
Attorney Valetta Browne agreed to represent VanWinkle long enough to ask Hayse for a continuance, but said she could not go ahead with the hearing Wednesday because cases are assigned by her supervisor and she could not agree to represent her during the hearing.
VanWinkle had been represented by attorney Jim Baechtold throughout her charges stemming from an abuse incident at Madison Manor Nursing Home.
Hayse redocketed the hearing for next Wednesday.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.