NORWICH – A part-time county corrections officer accused of assaulting his girlfriend and detaining her against her will has waived the right for his case to go before a grand jury.
Edward J. Knuth Jr., 25, Norwich, waived his right to an indictment Monday before Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan and was instead arraigned on a Superior Court Information filed by the District Attorney’s Office.
The written accusation details the crimes which Knuth allegedly committed during a domestic dispute on the night of July 30. According to Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee, the former Marine struck his then-girlfriend “more than a dozen times,” held her against her will and caused her to fear for her life during the incident, which took place in the City of Norwich. The three-count SCI charges Knuth with second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony; first degree unlawful imprisonment, a class E felony; and third degree assault, a class A misdemeanor.
Knuth’s defense attorney, Frank Revoir, entered a plea of not guilty to all three counts on behalf of his client.
At present, Knuth is free on $20,000 bond, which is a bone of contention for the DA’s office. According to Dunshee, the man’s bail was initially set at $50,000, but was doubled to $100,000 following a subsequent hearing in Norwich City Court on Aug. 2, at which time Judge James Downey ordered a mental health evaluation.
Between that date and when Knuth appeared back in City Court on Aug. 16, when his bail was reduced to $20,000, Dunshee said the defendant waived his right to a felony hearing. According to the assistant district attorney, jurisdiction in the matter should have transferred to the county level at that point, giving Downey no authority to reduce his bail.
“The people request bail be brought up to $100,000,” Dunshee said, explaining that, although an order of protection is in place, the victim and her family are still fearful.
Revoir stressed his client’s military record, explaining that Knuth had served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, and had been awarded three purple hearts during the course of his two tours in Iraq. But it was just this service that the victim’s father cited as cause for his family’s concern when he was given the opportunity to address the court.
“For the first time in my life, I sleep in a bedroom with a loaded shotgun,” he told the judge.
Revoir said his client’s mental health evaluation came back “favorable,” and that he had been deemed no longer a threat to the victim, himself or the community.
“He understands the anger and the fear the victim’s family has,” the attorney said, going on to assure the court that his client was “remorseful” about the incident and was no longer a threat to any party.
Revoir also told the court that Knuth had voluntarily begun alcohol treatment and sought counseling for post traumatic stress disorder at the VA hospital in Syracuse.
“He’s doing everything possible to have his mental health issues addressed by professionals,” he said. “We would ask that since bail has been posted ... that he remain out of jail.”
Sullivan agreed to continue Knuth’s current bail, but ordered that he continue to attend treatment sessions, comply with all recommended treatments and sign releases with those agencies to allow the court to monitor his compliance.
He also warned Knuth that if he violates the order of protection, which prevents him from contacting the victim either directly or indirectly, he would face separate criminal charges.