Sharp sentenced for assault

PALMER — A judge sentenced a man Friday formerly charged with attempted murder to a five-year sentence for assault.

Jeramie Sharp, 37, formerly of Caswell, had originally faced two charges of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree assault, four counts of third-degree assault, four counts of fourth-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree terroristic threatening. All counts save the second-degree assault charge were dropped as the result of a plea deal filed Sept. 30, 2014. Prosecutors agreed to a sentencing cap of five years as part of the plea deal.

The sentence Superior Court Judge Gregory Heath imposed Friday consisted of two years’ suspended sentence and three years to serve, in part because Sharp admitted to an aggravating domestic violence factor to his crime.

The sentence was designed to take into account rehabilitation for Sharp — whose only previous convictions were misdemeanor and minor offense crimes — while at the same time expressing community condemnation for the domestic violence portion of his crimes, Heath said.

“DVs are just so apparent in our society at this point, and it’s rampant, and a lot of it is situational,” he said. “Some of it’s situational. Some of it’s fueled by drugs and alcohol, some of it’s fueled by the idea of power and control, which they deal with in the training in the classes (Sharp will) be taking. The counselors will determine what was the primary influence in this case.”

“I don’t want (him) staying incarcerated, but this incident was just scary, no two ways about it,” Heath added. “Guns and drugs and alcohol are just dangerous. The cost has been high. Everybody’s paid a price.”

The charges stem from a series of domestic violence incidents in July 2012, when several calls from the Caswell area led troopers to an abandoned house, where friends had driven Sharp’s girlfriend and two kids after an assault. The girlfriend initially told Sharp she was leaving. In response, Sharp threatened her with a shotgun and beat her about the head and arm.

The unidentified girlfriend in the case has since been incarcerated, and declined to participate in the sentencing, attorneys said. The children in the case now reside out-of-state.

Sharp also delivered a statement before sentencing, because it was his last chance to show he was aware of the seriousness of his crimes.

The night of the incident was the result of bad decision making, Sharp said.

“I am sure there were other options available that were overlooked, partly because of my inhibitions being overrode by an excessive amount of alcohol consumed, anger and uncertainty of what may come of my relationship and my family, and most of all by fear of change,” he said. “This is no excuse … I am truly, deeply sorry.”

The interim years have cost him dearly, Sharp said. He said he has lost his family and all of his property.

“Since then I’ve lost everything I own, and I’ll have to start all over again at age 37, which will prove to be a very large feat on its own,” he said.

Assistant District Attorney Kerry Corliss had asked for five years probation in addition to the jail time, and had sought a plea deal only after being unable to locate the victim. Office of Public Advocacy defender Joe Van De Mark had sought less time, citing Sharp’s enrollment in numerous rehabilitation plans and lack of past felony convictions as reasons.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.