Alabama man gets deferred sentence on Floyd County assault charge

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

An Alabama man who pleaded guilty to a reduced charge for seriously injuring a man in a fight at a Charles City hotel earlier this year has been offered a deferred judgment during sentencing this week in Floyd County District Court.

Laron Robert Martin, age 34, of Selma, Alabama, had been charged with willful injury resulting in serious injury, a Class C felony, for his alleged involvement in an altercation with another man at the Best Budget Hotel in Charles City in May.

A trial had been set to begin Monday this week, but last month Martin filed a written plea of guilty to a reduced charge of assault causing serious injury, a Class D felony.

In return for the plea, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office recommended a fully suspended sentence and fine, but asked that Martin be required to pay full restitution. The attorney’s office also agreed that Martin could request a deferred judgment and request that his probation be transferred to another jurisdiction.

In Floyd County District Court this week, Judge DeDra Schroeder ordered Martin placed on probation for three years under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services, ordered that he obtain and maintain employment, ordered that he pay a fine of $1,025 plus surcharges but suspended that fine, and ordered that he pay victim restitution.

Schroeder also granted Martin the opportunity for a deferred judgment, which means if he meets all the conditions of his probation and financial obligations, the judge will dismiss the case and expunge the records, so his public record will not show the charges or conviction.

The judge retains the power to enter a judgment of guilty and impose a sentence if the deferment conditions are not met.

According to court records, after a verbal argument between Martin and another man, the other man was walking away “when Laron punched him in the side of the head and then picked him up and slammed him face first into the ground causing the male to be unconscious,” the criminal complaint says. It alleges that Martin continued punching the man in the head while he was unconscious, “causing serious injury.”

The man’s injuries included a displaced and fractured zygomatic arch (cheekbone), periorbital (around the eye) soft tissue contusion, and a concussion, according to the report, which said the man was treated at the hospital.

Judge Schroeder also ordered a no-contact order between Martin and the other man for five years.