Kathryn Knott, woman charged in gay bashing, released from jail

Kathryn Knott was released from Riverside Correctional Facility Tuesday after serving five months for her role in a gay bashing.

Common Pleas Judge Roxanne Covington granted a motion for her parole, according to court documents. Now, Knott must serve two years of probation, during which she cannot enter Philadelphia unless on official court business, and must pay a $2,000 fine.

Knott, 25, of Bucks County, was sentenced in February, 18 months after she and three others were arrested for attacking a gay couple in Center City.

Andrew Haught and Zachary Hesse were walking in the Gayborhood on Sept. 11, 2014, when Knott and a group of her 14 friends came upon the couple. They group called out homophobic slurs and began physically attacking the couple, the Philadelphia Gay News reported. Haught suffered a broken jaw and eye socket; Hesse sustained minor facial injuries.

Along with Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams, Knott was arrested and charged. Her co-defendents pleaded guilty and received probation and community service. Knott chose to take her case to trial.

Knott has served her minimum sentence of five to 10 months, Philly Mag reported. According to a report issued by the prison, Knott had no disciplinary issues and her parents had been “very involved” with their daughter while she served time.

“Miss Knott has been an exemplary inmate,”Knott’s lawyer, Center City attorney William Brennan, said. “She completed anger management in a timely, quick fashion. And she elected not to appeal. That speaks volumes to her sincerity.”

Knott had previously tried to get out of jail early twice. Both times, the judge denied her requests.

But Knott is still wrapped in legal battles, Philly Mag has reported.

Haught and Hesse have filed a civil lawsuit against Knott and the other two convicted attackers. Meanwhile, a Montgomery County woman has a $5 million suit against Knott in retaliation for anonymous comments she posted about Knott online.