By John Estridge
A 27-year-old Franklin County man was arrested and charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors after allegedly sucker punching a man at the Brookville Voluntary Fire Department’s Reverse Raffle, causing the man to be aircared.
Tyler D. Wilson was charged with Aggravated Battery, as a Level 3 Felony; Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, as a Level 5 Felony; Possession of Marijuana, as a class B misdemeanor; and Possession of Paraphernalia, as a class C misdemeanor.
Matthew Robenstine suffered broken vertebrae and several facial fractures due to the incident.
According to an Affidavit for Probable Cause written by Brookville Police Department Officer Donald Foresee, he was called to the Brookville Firehouse at 11:40 p.m., Saturday, October 1. Several people at the scene told Foresee Wilson sucker punched Robenstine in the face, which caused Robenstine to fall on cement and rendered him unconscious.
After the altercation, Wilson fled the scene. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department deputies located Wilson in an alley off East 10th Street up Ballpark Hill from the firehouse. Upon searching Wilson, the police found a small brown container the deputies said contained marijuana and a smoking device.
On Oct. 10, Foresee spoke with Robenstine at Robenstine’s home. For the first time Foresee saw the extent of Robenstine’s injuries. Foresee said Robenstine’s cheeks were severely bruised and swollen. He had blood red eyes due to ruptured blood vessels, and he wore an eye patch.
Robenstine had trouble speaking because he has numbness in his lips.
According to Robenstine, he suffered three facial fractures, which required brackets to be implanted on both sides of his face. Also, Robenstine has three fractured vertebrae.
Foresee summarized Robenstine’s recollection of the event as: Robenstine was talking to a group of friends when Wilson came up and began calling people in the group names. Robenstine said he tried to defuse the situation and eventually hugged Wilson. The next thing Robenstine knew he heard sounds from a helicopter and recalled someone yelling in his face.
If convicted of a Level 3 Felony, Wilson could receive a sentence of three to 16 years in prison. A Level 5 Felony conviction could result in a sentence of one to six years in prison.
Rush Circuit Court Judge David E. Northam is the special judge in the case. Brookville attorney Judson McMillin is the current defense attorney.