Battery case against former Quorum Court candidate dropped

Battery case against former Quorum Court candidate dropped

No charges for Watkins in scrap with councilman

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Kyle and Katrina Watkins’ battery charges were dismissed in circuit court last week. The couple had been charged with second degree battery after a brawl involving West Memphis City Councilman Willis Mondy back on Aug. 26 of last year.

For his part, Mondy was found guilty of misdemeanor assault back on Nov. 17, 2015, by Judge Keith Blackman in West Memphis. Mondy was also found not guilty on an additional charge of criminal mischief. Judge John Fogleman dismissed charges against the Watkins’ on April 11 as Watkins appeared for trial.

Kyle Watkins emerged as a public figure in recent months after repeated appearances before the West Memphis City Council concerning the L.R. Jackson girls club management and city funding, as well as a bid for a seat on the Crittenden County Quorum Court (Watkins outpolled incumbent JP District 7 justice Ronald Marconi in the March 1 primary, but ultimately came up short in the March 22 runoff.

The courtroom drama unfolded after Mondy went to the Agape Love Church on East Broadway last August where both Watkins served at an after school tutoring and meal program when the altercation started. The main bone of contention between the two was the lack of after-school programs at the L. R. Jackson Girls Club, the condition of the facility and the handling of city funds appro- priated for the club.

The councilman, having gotten an earful from Watkins during city council meetings and at an elementary school earlier in the day, went to the center, where things turned physical.

“I told him I don’t have anything to do with that,” said Mondy. “I just stopped by to tell him to go to the police with his complaints when he came at me and swung.”

Both men claimed the other to be the physical aggressor. The brawl turned into a literal knock-down drag-out affair. Mondy pulled dreds from Watkins’ scalp while also bruising and bloodying his left eye.

A pew was knocked over as the two tussled out the door. Watkins ended up on top and called 911. Mondy, checked himself into a hospital after the fight, has walked with a cane ever since, and is still taking physical therapy for an injury to his right leg. Mondy accused Katrina Watkins of piling on and pummeling him toward the end of the scuffle.

Judge Blackman fined Mondy $200 to go along with the guilty verdict.

“I think that is appropriate under the circumstances,” said Blackman as he rapped his gavel.

Kyle Watkins had hoped for a dismissal since the Mondy guilty verdict was handed down. While Mondy’s case was heard in District Court, the Watkins’ trials were sent to Circuit Court because of a mitigating factor: Mondy’s status as a senior citizen, which moved the charges against the Watkins to a felony and into the higher court.

But after the verdict against Mondy, prosecutors resolve to pursue the Watkins couple dissolved.

“I called everyone after he was found guilty,” said Watkins. “I couldn’t understand why my charges just wouldn’t be dropped (automatically). I called the FBI. I called prosecutors in Little Rock. Then when I showed up to court, they called me into the clerks office and I was told the charges were dismissed.”

Court documents show prosecutor Rik Ramsey and Judge Fogleman’s signatures on the sentencing order above the note, “State does not want to prosecute.”

Lost in the scuffle was the impact the altercation had on the children’s afterschool needs.

“The next day, no one came,” said Watkins last summer. “That was it. We haven’t met since.”

By John Rech