A Paragould woman has been sentenced to 36 months of probation after pleading guilty to throwing a knife at a man and threatening to kill him during an argument.
Summer Knuckles, 19, entered a negotiated guilty plea on Thursday to aggravated assault on a family or household member and first-degree terroristic threatening. Both charges are classified as Class D felonies. Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Pam Honeycutt sentenced her to 36 months of probation for each charge as part of the agreement.
Court records show that Knuckles is required to pay all court costs and fees through $50 monthly installments. A separate charge of third-degree domestic battery was dismissed as part of the plea deal.
The incident occurred on Aug. 24, when officers from the Paragould Police Department responded to a report of an assault on the 700 block of Theil Road. According to the affidavit, Knuckles told officers that she and the victim had been arguing when he struck her twice with a chair, prompting her to threaten to kill him.
However, the victim provided a different account. He told police that Knuckles had hit him twice in the face with a set of keys. In an attempt to retrieve the keys and de-escalate the situation, he said he pushed her down and threw her phone across the room.
The situation reportedly escalated from there. According to the affidavit filed by Cpl. Johnathon Porter, the victim stated that Knuckles shouted, "I am going to kill you," before leaving the room and returning moments later with a knife. The victim said he used a chair to defend himself and that Knuckles threw the knife at him during the altercation.
Porter noted that officers reviewed video footage of the incident, which supported the victim's account. Knuckles later admitted to hitting the victim with the keys during an interview at the police station but requested an attorney before providing further statements.
Following the incident, Greene County District Court Judge Curtis Hitt found probable cause to arrest Knuckles and issued a no-contact order to prevent further interaction between her and the victim.
Court records indicate that Knuckles must adhere to the terms of her probation and comply with all court-ordered financial obligations.