NORWICH – Following three days of testimony and more than two hours of deliberation, a Chenango County jury returned with a guilty verdict in the case of The People vs. Michael C. Thiel, the Otselic man originally charged with second degree assault, a class D violent felony, in an attack on Plymouth resident Bill Buckley.
It was alleged that Thiel, 39, on or about May 22, of 2012, with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person and with intent to cause physical injury to another person, seriously injured Buckley, 57, outside of the Otselic American Legion.
Thiel was accused of striking Buckley in the face with a closed fist, causing him to lose consciousness. It was also alleged that after Buckley lost consciousness, Thiel continued to strike Buckley’s face repeatedly with closed fists.
According to medical records and the sworn testimony of witnesses, Buckley began to asphyxiate from blood flooding his lungs after the altercation. Jessica Romanus, an Otselic American Legion bartender and a trained EMT, recognized the symptoms, rolling Buckley onto his side and preventing him from drowning in his own blood.
During the final day of trial, Thiel took the stand in his own defense, testifying to what he remembered of the day in question.
According to Thiel’s testimony, Buckley arrived at the American Legion parking lot and threatened Thiel. According to Thiel’s sworn testimony in recounting the altercation between himself and Buckley, Buckley swung first and struck Thiel’s jaw. Thiel then swore Buckley followed up with at least one other punch, which Thiel blocked with his wrist. Thiel stated at this point that the two fell to the ground, although he admitted he wasn’t sure how that came to be, speculating the two may have slipped or he may have pushed or tripped Buckley. Thiel then testified that he did not mount Buckley’s chest once he was on the ground, and that Buckley was still conscious and struggling, which was the reason Thiel gave for striking Buckley in the face three times using only his right fist, by his account.
Thiel also testified that he left the bar following the altercation because he had been threatened by others who were present.
Following Thiel’s testimony, four witnesses were called to the stand, all of whom testified that Buckley did not threaten Thiel as he had described.
Following both attorney’s closing statements, the case was handed over to the jury for its consideration. After approximately two and half hours, a guilty verdict was reached. Thiel will be sentenced at a later date at which point the Buckley family will be provided an opportunity to speak before the presiding judge, Hon. Gerald Keene. He faces up to seven years in state prison.
“We are of course very happy with the verdict,” said McBride. “But I would also like to point out that, at the time of the incident, everyone helped out. Jessica may have saved Mr. Buckley’s life, not only by taking control and rolling him on his side, but also by keeping Mr. Thiel away from the victim. I would also like to apologize to the witnesses, they did they right thing by coming down here to tell the truth, and the defense attorney really mistreated them, personally attacking them along the way. I would like to apologize on behalf of the system for what they went through.”
The Buckley family could not be reached for comment.