A trial date has been confirmed for a Cygnet man accused of felonious assault.
Taylor Hunter, 32, appeared Tuesday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Anderson said the two sides had not reached a plea agreement.
The state had offered a plea of guilty to amended assault, a fourth-degree felony, and criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor.
“We’re set for trial,” said defense attorney Andrew Schuman.
Hunter was indicted in July for felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Reger said the F4 charge has a presumption of community control while the indicted charge has a presumption of prison, which a potential sentence of eight-12 years.
“The court is expecting to go to jury trial on this,” he said.
On or about May 31, at approximately 3 a.m., Hunter was the passenger in a vehicle when he allegedly physically attacked the driver and caused damage to the vehicle.
According to court documents, Hunter allegedly punched the driver repeatedly in the face. The driver pulled to the side of the road to defend himself when Hunger allegedly grabbed the driver’s right hand and bent the fingers backwards, trying to break them. The driver pulled back into traffic and Hunter allegedly started punching him again before grabbing the center console and ripping the top off. Hunter then got out of the car and started walking away. The driver, who had had reconstructive surgery on his face five months ago, was treated at the hospital for a left eye socket orbital floor fracture.
The trial is scheduled to start March 22.
This case is running parallel to a civil case in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman where the driver of the vehicle is requesting compensatory damages in excess of $25,000 and punitive damages in excess of $50,000.
