A Philadelphia judge has shot down Kathryn Knott’s plea for a reduced prison sentence a month after she was convicted for her role in a Center City gay bashing, according to reports.
Knott was sentenced in early February to five to 10 months in prison after being convicted of simple assault and reckless endangerment in the assault of a gay couple in September 2014.
RELATED:Homophobia, assault prompt Germany to open LGBT refugee shelter A week after being sentenced, the 25-year-old requested the judge reconsider her punishment claiming she had “learned a lot in 18 months.” However, on Monday, according to Philly.com, Common Pleas Judge Roxanne Covington denied the request calling Knott’s sentence “appropriate” and told Knott that she was still “in need of correction.” The judge added that reducing the sentence would “depreciate the seriousness of the crimes,” Philly.com reported.
Covington said that she found “complete disconnect” between statements made by Knott and the seriousness of the crimes, according to ABC. Knott’s lawyer William Brennan said his client deserves the probation the two men — who were with Knott when the attacked happened — received, ABC reported. However, the judge said Knott denied the plea offer and decided to go to trial. During the attack, Knott was part of a group with Phillip Williams and Kevin Harrigan. The three attacked a gay couple after meeting them near 13th and Chancellor streets. One of the victims suffered a broken orbital bone and broken jaw, which was wired shut for weeks. RELATED:De Blasio to march in St. Patrick’s parade after LGBT ban dropped
Williams and Harrigan pleaded guilty to assault under a negotiated plea deal.
The two men received no jail time and were banned from Center City. Williams was hit with five years of probation and 200 hours of community service at a gay, lesbian and transgender organization. Harrigan got three years of probation and community service.