Man pleads not guilty to assault over orange peel
Police witness describes attack that hospitalized 65-year-old man as 'sucker punch'
A dispute over a discarded orange peel led to what one witness called a "sucker punch" that hospitalized one man, 65, and has another, 26, facing 10 years in prison.
William Ian Michael Patterson, 26, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony assault charge stemming from the Aug. 12 downtown incident. Patterson has been lodged at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center on a probation violation charge related to the case since the incident. He was indicted Friday.
Patterson was allegedly walking down South Franklin Street with Jordan Curbow at about 7:30 a.m. Aug. 12 when Curbow threw an orange peel in the street, according to court documents. Keith Kelton, 65, was walking with another man down the street when he saw Curbow litter and said, "It would be nice if you'd pick that up," according to the documents.
An argument allegedly ensued and Kelton told Juneau Police Department officers that he began to walk away from the heated situation.
"He's leaving the area because the argument isn't solving any of the issues and Mr. Patterson walks up behind him and spins him around and punches him," Sgt. Dave Campbell said. "(Patterson) put himself in the middle of a situation that didn't involve him and the guy was trying to leave at the same time."
A witness told police he watched Patterson "sucker punch" Kelton, knocking him unconscious with a single strike. The punch left a large pool of blood on the street and more on the sidewalk when police and paramedics arrived.
Kelton was transported to Bartlett Regional Hospital for 2 ½ hours of surgery. The surgeon told police he believed Patterson struck Kelton with brass knuckles due to the severity of the injury, which included a laceration to the upper eyelid and a cut on the left lower lid to the bone. The doctor told police there will be future health issues as a result of the punch due to the nature of the injury.
Patterson told police that he was the one walking away from the argument when Kelton grabbed him from behind, according to court documents. Patterson told police he hit Kelton in the face because he believed he was about to be assaulted.
Patterson is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for the alleged felony assault. His bail has been set at $10,000. A trial has been scheduled for Nov. 30.
• Contact reporter Eric Morrison at 523-2269 or eric.morrison@juneauempire.com.