A man who was charged with using the claw end of a hammer to strike the victim multiple times in the head and arm was sentenced to spend the next 17 years of his life in prison on Monday by Judge Patrick Robb.
Eldon Hawkins, age 34, told the judge at his sentencing that he was high on methamphetamine when he grabbed a hammer and began to strike the Victim. According to the Buchanan County Prosecutor, the Victim was rushed to Mosaic where he underwent brain surgery and spent several days in a coma due to a brain injury. Additional injuries included a broken arm, which occurred while trying to protect his head from the assault.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Davidson asked the judge to sentence the Defendant to the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and to order that sentence to run consecutively to a three-year sentence, which the Defendant had previously been given for the charge of Possession of Controlled substances. The Victim, who was present in the courtroom, remained solemn as the prosecutor argued on his behalf. “The victim is going to have to live forever with the emotional and physical scars from this senseless act of violence, and the state believes 15 years is an appropriate sentence.”
Judge Robb sentenced the defendant to serve a term of 14 years in prison, consecutive to the 3-year term for which the defendant had previously been granted probation.