Kurt Betts, at podium left with attorney Robert Shaker, is shown at his plea hearing in Trumbull County Eastern District Court. Walter Simmons is seated at right and Simmons’ attorney, Dimitrios Makridis, is at left.
Both men involved in a fight in which one of the men and a dog were stabbed in Masury have pleaded guilty to reduced charges and been fined.
“This was a mutual combat situation,” said Assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Deena DeVico, explaining why it was appropriate to drop felonious assault charges to disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor. “It was difficult to determine who started it.”
Walter L. Simmons, 70, of 790 N. Stateline Road, Masury, and Kurt L. Betts, 58, of 725 Boyd St., Masury, each were fined $150.
Trumbull County Eastern District Court Judge Marty Nosich called the resolution “very, very, very generous” and “probably too generous,” but accepted the plea deals.
He told the men not to find their ways back into his courtroom.
The fight occurred Aug. 10. Both men were walking dogs – Simmons was walking two animals – when they encountered each other in the 700 block of Grover Street, Brookfield police said.
The altercation apparently started when one of Simmons’ dogs acted aggressively at Betts’ dog, police said. One of Simmons’ dogs bit Betts, and Betts, who had a pocketknife, stabbed the dog, police said. Simmons punched and kicked Betts, and Betts stabbed Simmons in the chest, police said.
Both men sought medical attention, and the injured dog was taken to a vet, police said.
