Suspended Fort Jackson drill sergeant found guilty of assault on Black man
BY DAVID TRAVIS BLAND AND LUCAS DAPRILE• THE STATE • AUGUST 24, 2021
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tribune News Service) — A judge found suspended Fort Jackson Army Sgt. Jonathan Pentland guilty Monday of assaulting a Black man in a northeast Columbia neighborhood in an neighborhood in an incident that spawned protests, riled emotions and captured national attention.
After a two-day bench trial at Richland County magistrate court on Decker Boulevard, Judge Diedra Hightower gave the guilty verdict for third-degree assault and battery, a misdemeanor.
Pentland was sentenced to either 30 days in prison or a fine of $1,087. A bench trial does not include a jury. Instead, the judge determines the verdict.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department charged Pentland days after video hit social media showing the Army sergeant yelling at the man and telling him to get out of the Barony Place neighborhood in the Summit. Sheriff Leon Lott said Pentland became physical with the man, warranting a third degree assault and battery charge. Witnesses testified that they saw Pentland shove and hit the person on the arm.
The incident was seen by some as another moment of racism against a Black man. Black community groups gathered outside Pentland’s house to express their anger after the video was publicized.
Pentland’s attorney, Benjamin Allen Stitely, argued that the altercation was based on behavior by the alleged victim before cameras were turned on and that Pentland was justified in his actions.
Stitely decried the way people labeled Pentland “a bully and a racist. He was defending his family and friends,” Stitely said.
Several witnesses said Williams was acting “erratic” or volatile before the incident. Williams’ father testified that his son, once a high-performing student, suffered potential brain damage after suffering from lymphoma, a type of cancer. Williams, who is now in remission, suffered swelling throughout his lymph system and in his brain, Williams’ father testified. As a result, Williams struggles to complete basic tasks, such as getting groceries without assistance.
Pentland’s defense attorneys didn’t deny what happened on the video, but said the video lacked crucial context that went back several days.
Kimberly Hernandez, who lives in The Summit, testified that in the days before the event several of her family members had disturbing encounters with Williams.
Williams frequently approached one of Hernandez’s daughters while she was walking the dog throughout the neighborhood, Hernandez testified.
“I don’t care if he walks in the area,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t want him stopping my daughter anytime he was outside.”
On a separate encounter, Williams allegedly picked up a baby belonging to Hernandez’s daughter-in law, she testified. …
“He was angry by the time he approached me. He was already erratic and jumping back and forth. He was telling me he did nothing wrong,” Hernandez said.
Williams was yelling so loud and got so close to Hernandez, he was unintentionally spitting in her face, she testified.
“I would think he would start to walk away, but immediately he would come back and come back to me,” Hernandez said.
After seeing Hernandez and Williams arguing, neighbor Renee Wilson testified that she called 911 after hearing a man and a woman screaming louder and louder at each other.
The woman, Hernandez, cried out yelling for someone to call 911, Wilson testified.
“It just seemed like it was about to get worse,” said Wilson, who is Black.
Around the time Wilson called 911, Hernandez and Williams stopped their argument and Hernandez went over to Pentland’s house, ringing the doorbell and banging on the door, multiple witnesses said.