Knocking Man To Ground Leads To Potential 20-Year Sentence: ACPD

ARLINGTON, VA — A 34-year-old man is facing malicious wounding and trespassing charges in connection to an assault that took place at a business located north of Shirlington late Thursday night, according to Arlington County Police.

Officers responded around 12:15 a.m. on Friday for the report of an assault outside a business in the 4600 block of King Street. A preliminary investigation determined that two men were arguing around 11:50 p.m., on Thursday, when one of the men knocked the other to the ground, according to police. After a witness intervened, the suspect fled.

Although the victim sustained minor injuries from the fall, he refused medical attention at the scene, according to the incident report.

After broadcasting a lookout, the responding officers located the suspect nearby and took him into custody. The suspect, who was identified as John Williams of an undetermined address, had previously been trespassed from the business, according to police. He was arrested and held without bond.

Williams was arraigned in Arlington General District Court on Friday morning and has a bond hearing on Monday morning, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 5, when he will face the malicious wounding and trespassing charges.

If Williams is found guilty on the malicious wounding charge, which is a Class 3 felony, he faces a potential sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison, along with a possible fine of up to $100,000, according to the Code of Virginia.

The trespassing charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which has a maximum penalty of up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.