By Guy Leonard, County Times
HOLLYWOOD, Md. (Sept. 11, 2008)—Alan K. Kohut, the man accused of severely beating a man at the A&E Motel in Lexington Park last year, was sentenced to six years in state prison for his crime.
Kohut pleaded guilty to first-degree assault earlier this year and avoided a more serious charge of attempted first-degree murder for his attack on Thomas Alvin Campbell, Sr. Nov. 9.
According to Kohut’s attorney Daniel Slade, his client was an alcoholic and drug addict who had been released from the county detention center just days before the assault at the motel.
Slade said his client tried to seek assistance with his drug and alcohol problem by going to county operated treatment facilities but found no help there.
Without help, Slade said, his client went back to bad habits that had haunted him for a significant portion of his life, including binge drinking and smoking crack cocaine.
Kohut had been hanging out with Campbell all day, and when Campbell “tried to sexually engage my client and, quite frankly, he lost it.”
According to police reports taken the day of the assault, Kohut began striking and kicking the victim after the victim had refused to give Kohut money.
When police arrived on the scene at room No. 107, he began hurling objects at them to keep them at bay, police reports alleged.
Despite Kohut’s claims that the victim in the case allegedly sexually assaulted him, detectives could find no proof to support his claims.
Initial reports from police showed that Campbell had suffered heavy tissue damage to his face as well a skull fracture, but according to State’s Attorney Richard Fritz, who prosecuted the case, Campbell’s injuries where later deemed to be less severe.
For his part, Kohut acknowledged his alcohol and drug abuse problem, and said he wanted to continue to seek help.
“I don’t want to drink anymore and I don’t want to do dope anymore,” Kohut told Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Stamm. “I have made some bad choices… and on that night I made the worst mistake of my life.
“I should’ve walked away, but I didn’t.”
Judge Stamm sentenced Kohut to 15 years in the Department of Corrections but suspended the term down to six years while recommending Kohut for the Patuxent Institute, a drug and addiction treatment facility.
Judge Stamm said Kohut faces stiff jail time if he violates his parole once he gets out of prison, adding that Kohut “has a history of not being able to complete probation.”
“Your history is atrocious,” Judge Stamm said. “This is it for you.”
RELATED INFORMATION:
Ridge Man Charged with Attempted Murder, Nov. 11, 2007
http://somd.com/news/headlines/2007/6723.shtml
Man Pleads Guilty To Motel Assault, June 25, 2008
http://somd.com/news/headlines/2008/7864.shtml