BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Richard Alan Joyner, 31, of Austin, pleaded guilty during an arraignment June 26 in the Sixth Judicial District Court to one count of battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, a category C felony. He came before Judge Michael Montero. He faces one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. He could also receive probation and restitution may also be part of the sentence. Joyner's sentencing was set for Aug. 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the district court. The case involves a stabbing at The Pub Bar in Austin in which Joyner was arrested on May 20 for battery with a deadly weapon. As of June 27, Joyner remained in jail with his bail set at $50,000. Joyner had waived his preliminary hearing in accordance with the guilty plea agreement. He was assigned to Bill Schaeffer as his public defender in the Austin Justice Court on March 27 where he made his first appearance and bail hearing. Joyner told Montero on June 26 that he was pleading guilty because he was in fact guilty of the charges. Montero asked Joyner to tell him what occurred during the incident. Schaeffer stepped in and asked the court if he could give the summary since Joyner had no recollection of the actual stabbing. Montero let Schaeffer speak on Joyner's behalf. Schaeffer said Joyner was at The Pub on March 20 when he got into a dispute with Kenneth L. Knight. Schaeffer said Joyner pulled out a knife and two witnesses tried to get the knife from Joyner but Joyner had already stabbed Knight at least a couple of times. Joyner did not dispute Schaeffer's explanation. Prosecutor, District Attorney Angie Elquist, pointed out that the incident resulted in substantial bodily harm to the victim. Schaeffer said Knight lost a lot of blood and it was conceivable that he could have died of blood loss on his way to the hospital. According to the District Attorney's Office criminal complaint, which was filed March 22, on or about March 20, at or near The Pub Bar, 90 Main St., Austin, the defendant stabbed Knight in the neck with a knife resulting in substantial bodily harm to the victim.[[In-content Ad]]
