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Rogersville teen accused of beating disabled grandmother
ROGERSVILLE — A Rogersville teen was arrested Monday by Hawkins County authorities for allegedly beating up his disabled grandmother because she wouldn’t let him take her car.
The victim’s brother, Charles Jarvis, contacted the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning and stated that two family members of his sister, Kathy Lawson, 60, had been physically abusing her. Jarvis told the HCSO the problem had been occurring for about a year, and his sister would not ask for help from anyone.
Lawson was interviewed by the HCSO Monday and reportedly stated that her grandson, Jonathan Blake “Johnny” Skeens, 19, 309 Western Heights Drive, Rogersville, had been placing her in fear for her safety and abusing her.
“The victim (Lawson) states that the defendant (Skeens) will ask her for money, and if she does not give him money he will assault her,” HCSO Detective David Lafollette stated in the arrest warrant. “(Lawson) states (Skeens) asked her for her car before Oct. 31, and she would not let him take it. She states she was assaulted because she would not let him take the car.”
Lawson told the HCSO that Skeens struck her in the face, kicked her in the legs and twisted her wrist, Lafollette stated in the warrant.
Lafollette added, “The victim did have visible marks from this incident.”
According to reports, officers observed obvious bruises on her face and arms, and a large bruise on her left leg.
Skeens was arrested as his home about 11 a.m. Monday and charged with one count of willful elder abuse, a Class C felony punishable by three to six years in prison.
Skeens was released on bail at 6:45 p.m. Monday and is scheduled for arraignment in Hawkins County Sessions Court on Nov. 18.
Although a second family member was accused of assaulting Lawson by her brother, no one else was charged.
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Bob Dennett, I live in the Hawkins Co area. I too agree with all your comments. Hawkins Co used to be a good place to live. It still is in some ways.
The fact is, the judicial system in Hawkins Co is so corrupt it's unexplainable. Keep in mind our jailing system can't even be opened. With due respect just because we hillbillies can't post on the internet to defend ourselves doesn't mean the entire county is bad. Most of us have lives and we don't git to sit on a pc reading the paper everyday to see all the foolishness that goes on around us. Almost everyone I know in Hawkins Co doesn't subcribe to Times News, and if you have ever read the Rogersville Review they maybe update once a month.
Anyway sir, you're more than welcome to enter our county if you'd like to swing by and grab a good hot home cooked meal.
Oh they will love him at Brushy Mountain.....
PEOPLE LIKE THIS NEED TO BE TOOK OUT AND SHOT NO NOT SHOT BUT THEY DO NEED TO BE SEVERILY PUNISHED BY THE ATHORITIES OR A FAMILY MEMBER.IF IT WAS MY GRANNY I WOULD BEAT THE MAN WITHIN A INCH OF HIS LIFE NURSE HIM BACK TO HEALTH AND DO IT AGAIN
It is so sad that so many people have no morals and can only think of me, myself, and I. 19 and probably hooked on drugs, no job, and still has tenncare so he runs to the doctor everytime his poor little tooth hurts. Now hopefully he will serve time, but we will just be paying for his upkeep there as well. I just love this world that we are living in!
To clarify my earlier comments... I don't mean to brush all in Hawkins Co. with such a broad brush but my goodness, why is there such a high crime rate, esspecially violent crime rate, in your county? I mean after all the country is usually where people tend to have a little better common sense.
I just can't figure out which is failing or contributing more. The school system, the local law enforcement, the rate of poverty, the unemployment rate? Or is it a combination of all of the above? Any time I see a violent crime headline I am starting to assume two things 1) it occured somewhere in Hawkins Co. and 2) it somehow involved relatives.
Aside from my snarky comments my heart goes out to this granny. What a tragety to live long enough to see your grandchildren turn into adults only to become a victum of one of them. What a dirtbag that kid must be.
Has anyone thought to check on this woman after this looser posted bail. I hope the grandmother is not the one who bailed him out!
I agree with the ass busting, or better yet, a louisville slugger, but I DO NOT agree with bail. It looks like he was out immediently. Why didn't they post what the bail was?
Yeah but Bob is right. I said the same thing on another post Bob and got some hateful reply about how the Police are doing all they can and crime rate is up everywhere. I'm a Criminal Justice Graduate...lol...Anyway, you are correct! Crime rate is skyrocketing in HC and if something or someone doesn't get control, all of us who are some what normal individuals are going to have to pack up and move.
As far as this case, I seriously want to find this lady and just give her a hug. I think she needs to know love and this is HORRIBLE of this boy. How could you hit or do anything to your mamaw? I would give anything to have my grandmother back so that I could love her...HOW COULD YOU? You are a disrespectful, ungrateful, spoiled brat! You need a good ass whooping is what you need you brat!
Now that's been said!
Easy there Bob - all of us Hawkins County residents aren't dope head, pill chasing, grandmother beaters. I hope this punk at least gets to see the inside of prison so that Bubba can let him experience what this feels like -- sad story nonetheless.
And Rogersvile is where..... Wait for it.. Wait for it.. Hawkins County.
What is it with all these crazy crime reports down that way? Did they finally fire up that reactor in Phipp's Bend?
That poor lady.. He should be ashamed of himslef, but then again he probably has no remorse for his actions. If someone in my family did that to my mamaw, I would feel sorry for them. The world is truely an evil place