FARMINGTON — A Jay woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to kicking Jay police officer Dylan Rider in the groin last year when he tried to get her into a cruiser.
Carol Welch, 48, was sentenced to eight days in jail with credit given for four already served. She will report to jail Feb. 20.
Carol Welch Franklin County Detention Center photo
Welch entered guilty pleas in Franklin County Superior Court to felony assault on an officer and misdemeanor charges of refusing to submit to arrest or detention-physical force and criminal mischief.
“I am extremely sorry,” she said. “I am an alcoholic. I hope the officer can forgive me for what has happened.”
Rider did not attend the court proceeding.
Deputy District Attorney James Andrews said Rider would have testified that on Oct. 6, 2017, he responded to a domestic dispute complaint and found Welch heavily intoxicated. She complained of back pain and was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington and cleared for release.
Rider would testify that Welch had to be physically removed from the hospital, kicked hospital doors and knocked them off the track and kicked him in the groin after he handcuffed her and tried to get her into a cruiser, Andrews said.
At Tuesday’s sentencing, Judge Rick Lawrence accepted a two-year agreement on the assault charge with conditions that she not use alcohol, continue alcohol abuse counseling and adhere to a pretrial supervision agreement. If she does, she will be allowed to withdraw her plea to the felony charge and it will be dismissed. If she doesn’t, she faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Andrews reviewed Welch’s criminal record, which included convictions for criminal mischief, unauthorized use and operating under the influence, and asked that she be sentenced to 14 days on the misdemeanor charges.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Wilson argued for four days in jail, saying Welch had already been punished by losing her job and being publicly humiliated. She has also checked in with a pretrial supervisor every night, is undergoing counseling and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, he said.
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