A Harrison man, 34-year-old Justin James Lewis, has been sentenced to six years of supervised probation in connection with a standoff in Marion County when the Boone County man wielded a large knife and hammer and claimed unidentified people were trying to kill him.
The sentence came last Wednesday in Marion County Circuit Court following a negotiated plea to a felony charge of first-degree criminal mischief. Lewis was originally also charged with a felony count of residential burglary and two misdemeanor counts. The plea agreement and statement were filed Tuesday.
According to the arrest affidavit, officers from three law enforcement agencies responded to the scene along Marion County Road 2048 on the afternoon of September 23rd.
Corporal John Spence with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported when he arrived at the residence, he found the homeowners’ lawn worker holding a pistol outside the closed door to a room where Lewis had barricaded himself.
The homeowner advised Lewis had entered the residence by breaking through the outside door of the home leading to an office area. The lawn worker said he had retrieved his pistol from his vehicle for the protection of the homeowners until law enforcement arrived. He told the Marion County law enforcement officer Lewis pushed over two filing cabinets to block the exit door. He then picked up a claw hammer, broke a paper cutter and made it into a knife.
Corporal Spence reported Lewis was talking irrationally, saying “they were outside, and if he moves, they will kill him.” As he continued to negotiate with Lewis, Spence said the Harrison man made numerous aggressive movements, as if he was going to lunge toward the officer’s location.
As negotiations continued, Lewis told officers he was thirsty, with a deputy retrieving a glass of water. Spence reported he entered the room where Lewis was, offered him the water, and set the glass in front of him. A few minutes later, Lewis laid the knife and hammer down. He was arrested without further incident.
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