Charges against James "Jimi" Hammond, the son of Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond, were reduced Tuesday as part of a plea agreement made in General Sessions Court.
James Hammond IVJames Hammond was arrested in January and charged with aggravated assault. His wife told deputies that he attacked her when she got out of the shower, punching her in the face and striking her with a beer bottle. She required several staples to close a wound in her head, and investigators said they found evidence that corroborated her story at the couple's Signal Mountain home.
James Hammond allegedly told investigators that his wife hit him in the face after they had argued all day, and that he had "had enough."
James Hammond pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of domestic assault, a misdemeanor that represents a lesser charge than felony aggravated assault. That means he will be able to keep his job as webmaster at the sheriff's office, his attorney Lee Davis said.
"That will not terminate his employment," Davis said. Sheriff Hammond recused himself from the case at the outset, and the plea agreement was worked out between James Hammond's attorney and a special prosecutor out of Warren County, Tenn. General Sessions Court Judge Mark Raines, from Marion County, entered the plea.
James Hammond agreed to 11 months and 29 days probation, 48 hours of community service, alcohol and drug assessments, continued anger management counseling, and a restitution payment of $1,032.50 to be paid to his wife to cover her medical expenses.
Contact staff writer Claire Wiseman at 423-757-6347 or cwiseman@timesfreepress.com.