Alabama woman charged in alleged May hotel fight

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

An Alabama woman was arrested this month on a warrant issued in May for her alleged involvement in a fight at a Charles City hotel.

Sametra Lequan Perkins, age 39, was arrested in Greensboro, Alabama, and transported to the Floyd County Jail. She is charged with willful injury resulting in serious injury, a Class C felony, for allegedly stomping the head of a “clearly unconscious” man while her boyfriend, Laron Robert Martin, punched him.

The event occurred at the Best Budget Hotel in Charles City on May 6, according to court documents.

“The full assault was caught on video and parties were identified by identification cards at the scene,” according to the criminal complaint filed in Floyd County District Court.

Martin, age 34, of Selma, Alabama, had been arrested a few days after the incident and also charged with willful injury resulting in serious injury. He pleaded guilty in September to a reduced charge of assault causing serious injury, a Class D felony.

Martin was sentenced last month to three years probation and ordered to pay victim restitution, but was given a deferred judgment, which means if he meets all the terms 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, Perkins “assisted in assaulting a clearly unconscious male by stomping several times on his head while her boyfriend punched him. The male’s injuries are displaced and fractured zygomatic arch, periorbital soft tissue contusion, and a concussion. Male went to hospital for treatment.”

Perkins is being held in the Floyd County Jail under $10,000 cash-only bond. Arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 27 in Floyd County District Court, although frequently a written arraignment is filed by the defendant’s attorney and an arraignment hearing is not held.