FARMINGTON — A Jay man pleaded guilty Tuesday to beating a Wilton man with a wooden club on June 30 on Main Street in Wilton.

Kahner Dee, 19, pleaded guilty to felony assault and had a charge of aggravated assault dismissed in a plea agreement.

Judge Susan Oram accepted the plea and a disposition that defers sentencing for two years. If Dee completes everything outlined in the agreement successfully, he will be able to withdraw his plea, plead to a misdemeanor charge and have it discharged, his attorney, Adam Sherman, said. That means he won’t be sentenced in the case, he said outside of the courtroom.

Prior to the judge accepting Dee’s plea, Assistant District Attorney James Andrews said if the case went to trial, there would have been testimony of an ongoing dispute and threats exchanged with Jason White, 43, of Wilton, the beating victim.

Testimony would also have been heard that when White drove by a residence in Jay, four people came at him, White threw a glass bottle that exploded near the men and drove into Wilton as the men followed him.

Testimony would have been heard that four men surrounded White and Juan Colon, 23, of Livermore Falls struck White twice with a homemade, wooden club, Andrews said. Testimony would also have been heard that White was treated at a local hospital for injuries to his head, including lacerations, he said.

Dee had a factual dispute over the evidence that would have been heard if the case went to trial, Sherman said after talking with his client. He didn’t get out of the car and he did not see who hit White with the club, Sherman said.

Colon and Benjamin York, 18, of Jay also face aggravated assault charges in the case.

dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link