A North Little Rock man pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal charge of assault with a deadly weapon on a federal officer last year in the parking lot of Fort Roots.
Albert Lee Singleton, 35, admitted that the assault on Officer Gregory Gillham with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs occurred July 12 after a Veterans Affairs lieutenant on patrol noticed Singleton's white pickup sitting in the lot with its engine running and lights on.
The lieutenant, L.V.Starks, reported that Singleton, the driver, said he wasn't a student or an employee and didn't need any assistance. When Starks told Singleton he needed to see his identification, Singleton refused and became combative, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Givens told U.S. District Judge Brian Miller.
Givens said Singleton wouldn't step out of his truck, so Starks, who was in uniform, prevented Singleton from closing the door. He said Gillham, who had arrived to assist and was also in uniform, then reached inside the vehicle. His left leg and half his body was inside the truck as Singleton drove it forward, dragging Gillham about 25 feet as Starks shouted for Singleton to stop, Givens said.
The prosecutor said the driver's side rear tire drove over Gillham's leg, and he was hospitalized with a fibular fracture, which "required months of treatment."
Singleton, sitting beside defense attorney Dan Hancock in Miller's courtroom, answered a series of questions that Miller asked him, including whether the facts read aloud were true, by repeating slowly, "Yes, your honor."
Miller said he was concerned about Singleton's "robotic" response and wondered if he truly intended to plead guilty, but once again, Singleton said slowly and hesitantly, "Yes, your honor."
Hancock then told the judge that he believed "some of the hesitation is due to extenuating circumstances" that he hopes can be brought out at sentencing.
Singleton's plea agreement calls for potential prison time of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution of roughly $9,600 for Gillham's medical expenses and loss of income.
No sentencing date was set.
Court documents indicate that Singleton has been receiving treatment for drugs and alcohol, as well as "mental health issues," and that during the spring, he was allowed to drive only with a locking device on the vehicle.