NORWICH – The Smithville man who stabbed his co-worker and girlfriend's ex-boyfriend during a fist fight outside of his home was sentenced to five years in prison.
In March of 2014, 30-year-old Kyle V. Whitfield was arrested for murder in the second degree, a class A-1 felony.
Whitfield had a physical altercation with his co-worker and girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, 33-year-old James G. Button of Greene, which started inside Whitfield's Smithville residence and ended outside the home.
On March 3, 2014, at approximately 3:20 p.m., outside Whitfield’s residence in Smithville, Whitfield stabbed Button four times with a folding knife causing his death.
According to authorities, Whitfield's girlfriend called 911 to complain that Button was trespassing before the stabbing took place and later there was a second 911 phone call reporting the stabbing.
When NYSP arrived at the residence, authorities said Button was pronounced dead at the scene.
Whitfield was indicted for manslaughter in the first degree, a class B felony, on March 20, 2014.
It was alleged, per the indictment, Whitfield intended to cause physical injury to Button by stabbing him, not to cause his death, but it was also alleged that in stabbing him, Whitfield did cause Button's death.
Whitfield pleaded not guilty and prepared to go to trial. He faced up to 25 years.
On March 9, 2015, Whitfield withdrew his not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to the class B felony of manslaughter in the first degree.
According to District Attorney Joseph A. McBride at the March 9 court proceeding, Button was looking for Whitfield's girlfriend's mother, which led to the argument that ensued.
On April 24, 2015, Whitfield reappeared in Chenango County Court to be sentenced by Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr.
Before Whitfield was sentenced, Button's sister then his ex-wife who is the mother of his first two children spoke.
Button's sister said the day she heard from her father that her brother had been stabbed was the “day the world stopped.” When she found out he was dead, she said it “did not seem real.”
“There is no justice for my brother's life being taken,” she said. “We do not agree with [Whitfield] getting five years.”
“It seems like my brother was the one on trial, but if Kyle would not have followed my brother outside to his vehicle, he would still be alive today,” she added.
Button's sister said although Whitfield “did not get much time” she hoped it would “be the worst five years of his life,” and she said she did not believe Whitfield's girlfriend would be waiting for him when he gets out.
“I hope you enjoyed spending my brother's life insurance money,” she said.
Button's sister was referring to the fact that Whitfield's girlfriend had received Button's life insurance money since she was still listed as Button’s beneficiary. She said Whitfield had originally been bailed out with her brother's life insurance money and that he was able to spend a year with his girlfriend because he was bailed out.
“But we didn't get to spend time with my brother. We will never get to hug him, never get to see him. We didn't get to say our goodbyes or how proud we were,” she said.
Button's ex-wife said Button's two oldest children will not get to experience major life events with him like “seeing him dance at their wedding,” saying they are sorry for things they did wrong or tell him they love him one more time.
“This is a very difficult case,” said McBride. “The victim was looking for his girlfriend at the time, an argument ensued and the defendant went over the line by pulling out a knife and stabbing the victim.”
“We can't have people ending fist fights with weapons, and he is lucky he is not going to jail for 25 years. Given the mitigating factors, I believe it's a fair and appropriate disposition for Chenango County,” he added.
McBride said Button's stabbing was a “needless death,” and that Whitfield would be removed from the community for five years and suffer the rest of his life for the consequences.
McBride requested Whitfield pay for Button's funeral as restitution.
Whitfield's attorney, Christopher Grace, said there have been numerous conferences for the case and that it was “not easy for either side.”
Grace said he wish he lived in Chenango County, because McBride fights for the county's residents. He said there were constant discussions about “what is right and wrong.”
“But I have to fight for my client, and he is expressing remorse for this. He knows what [Button’s] family is going through and what his own family is going through,” said Grace.
Grace said he objected to the funeral costs because it is not a part of the original plea deal and he said the family has the option of receiving the funds through civil court.
When asked if he would like to speak, Whitfield hesitated and looked at his lawyer.
“He would like to rely on what I said,” said Grace. “He is too emotional to say something.”
“This was a difficult case for the community. Any time there is a death, it hits us all to our core and shakes us beyond belief ... I can understand those feelings that there is no justice,” said Revoir.
“If I didn't believe it was a fair disposition I would not have put my stamp of approval on it,” said Revoir. “You (to Whitfield) are paying some consequence for whatever those events are that transpired.”
Whitfield received a determinate sentence of five years incarceration at the New York State Department of Corrections and five years post release supervision.
According to McBride, with respect to the victim and his family, he said there were several mitigating factors that led to him offering Whitfield five years in prison.
“The defendant may have had a viable self defense claim, which possibly could have resulted in his acquittal [if he had gone to trial],” said McBride.