Repeat Offender Convicted in Violent Attack

A Knox County jury took less than an hour to reject a claim of self-defense and convict Ricky Ronald Thompson, 44, of Aggravated Assault following an altercation that left the victim with four metal plates in his face. Because the defendant has ten prior felony convictions, the State will ask that Thompson serve the maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.

Prosecutors Molly Martin and Kevin Allen presented evidence of an assault that took place on June 6, 2014, at the Walter P. Taylor Homes. Around 10:00 PM, Thompson entered the victim’s apartment and asked for a beer. When the victim refused, Thompson struck the victim in the face. The fight continued outside the apartment where Thompson repeatedly punched the victim in the face until the victim lost consciousness and Thompson fled the scene. The victim suffered severe facial fractures and other injuries resulting in facial reconstructive surgery and four permanent plates being placed in the victim’s skull by surgeons at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Thompson argued at trial that he acted in self-defense, but the jury credited the testimony of the victim and Knoxville Police Department Officers Thomas Turner and Derrick White and rejected the defendant’s claim.

Judge Scott Green presided over the trial and set the case for sentencing on November 19. At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors will use Thompson’s ten prior felony convictions and the fact that he was on parole in Alabama at the time of this assault to seek the maximum punishment of 12 years in prison. Because Thompson was on parole at the time of this offense, his sentence must run consecutive to or after the completion of his twenty-year Alabama sentence.

District Attorney Charme Allen stated,”When I took office a year ago, I promised to seek justice for victims and to hold offenders accountable. Violent offenders like Thompson with lengthy criminal histories will continue to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.