By Matthew Hill
FAYETTEVILLE — Rather than go to trial for attempted murder, a Mount Hope man pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge last Wednesday before Fayette County Circuit Judge John Hatcher in connection with a shooting incident that took place in Powellton on Oct. 8, 2007.
Hewitt M. “Hillbilly” Grasty Jr., 52, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In exchange for Grasty’s guilty plea, assistant prosecutor Brian Parsons agreed to drop the charge of attempted murder. Parsons noted the victim’s family was not opposed to the plea agreement.
Hatcher ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared by the probation office before Grasty’s sentencing on April 1.
Grasty was released on his present bond until that date. He faces up to five years in prison.
Grasty and two co-defendants were arrested and charged in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Powellton. On Wednesday, Grasty told Hatcher that he had the 9 mm semi-automatic in his vehicle on the date in question but did not fire it himself.
Zachariah N. Woodson, 20, of Scarbro, is the alleged gunman in the case. He previously pleaded guilty to related charges several months ago.
According to prosecutors, Grasty and Woodson were accompanied by Tony J. Walker, 31, of Oak Hill, as they made their way to the Powellton Hollow residence of Michael Schoolcraft. As Parsons explained it, Grasty was chagrined over a cocaine purchase that went bad.
A scuffle purportedly commenced between Grasty and Shawn Schoolcraft, who also lived at the residence. Schoolcraft, now 18, said he was “sucker punched” by Grasty before being shot in the left leg by Woodson.
Grasty’s case has taken several twists and turns since late 2007. His original trial on the charge of attempted murder ended in a mistrial last Oct. 1 when a witness for the prosecution proffered what was determined by Hatcher to be inappropriate testimony regarding the defendant’s constitutional right to silence.
— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com
