A 50-year-old James City County man will spend six months in jail after a felony malicious wounding conviction stemming from a fight on Ironbound Road was reduced to a misdemeanor during a hearing Wednesday.
Michael Anthony Robertson was found guilty of malicious wounding after his not guilty plea during a July hearing. During that hearing, a 44-year-old woman testified Robertson offered her and her daughter $500 to have sex with him, prompting them to tell his wife.
During the ensuing confrontation in Robertson’s front yard, the 48-year-old brother of the woman said Robertson struck him in the head with a glass bottle. A large fight followed, resulting in what Robertson said was a broken nose, broken rib and other injuries that caused him to miss more than a month of work.
Robertson’s attorney, Richard Collins, requested Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty reduce the felony conviction to a misdemeanor to help Robertson meet financial and family commitments, noting Robertson’s involvement with his family and a “great work history” in construction.
“I have a family and I need them and they need me,” Robertson told the judge prior to receiving his sentence. “I want to support them and keep my job.”
McGinty accepted the request to reduce the charge, noting the fight was a situation where some blame could “lay elsewhere.” He told Robertson he reduced the charge with some hesitation. He said he thinks the fight happened because Robertson was drinking and that he needs to “stop” with that behavior because his family members need him in their lives.
The felony malicious wounding charge was reduced to assault and battery. McGinty gave Robertson 12 months in jail, with 6 months suspended.
The fight occurred on the 4300 block of Ironbound Road just after 9 p.m. Nov. 22. Robertson initially faced more charges, including one after he was alleged to have attacked the victim’s 70-year-old mother during the fight. That charge was dropped during the trial.
A police officer who responded to the reported fight testified in July that when he arrived on scene, there were 30 to 40 people “yelling” and “being unruly,” creating what he called an “officer-safety situation.”
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