Assault suspect nears plea or trial
GRAYSON An Olive Hill man accused of a violent domestic incident last October will attempt to mediate his case just weeks before the case is scheduled to be presented to jurors.
On Monday in Carter County Circuit Court, Tristan Mitchell, 27, appeared before Circuit Judge Rebecca Phillips who announced his previously scheduled second-case trial status had been advanced to first.
Michael Curtis, Mitchell’s attorney, said the case would attempt mediation to reach a plea agreement with the prosecution and alleged victim.
Mitchell was arrested last October on multiple violent charges including first-degree sodomy, a class A felony in the state of Kentucky due to the severity of the injuries supposedly sustained during the assault of a domestic partner.
Mitchell was charged with 10 additional felonies, including kidnapping, second-degree domestic violence assault, wanton endangerment, witness intimidation and first-degree criminal child abuse.
In the event the mediation is successful, Judge Phillips scheduled Mitchell to reappear June 3 to possibly enter a guilty plea, but if not, his case was now first in line for jury presentation on June 11.
If convicted on the most serious offense of first-degree sodomy, Mitchell faces up to 50 years in prison.
