A Hot Springs man arrested last year after allegedly attacking a passing motorcyclist, knocking him off his motorcycle into traffic, was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
James Winfield Blakley, 48, who has remained in custody since his arrest the night of the incident on Sept. 7, 2018, pleaded guilty to a felony count of aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in prison, and to a misdemeanor count of first-degree criminal mischief, stemming from damages to the motorcycle, and sentenced to one year in jail.
Blakley was given credit for time served since his arrest and was ordered to pay $190 in court costs upon his release. He is classified as a habitual offender, having been convicted in 1995 for residential burglary, in 1998 for breaking or entering, and in 1999 for seven counts of breaking or entering, all in Saline County.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 7, around 8 p.m., Hot Springs police Officer Justin Bradbury responded to the 1200 block of Central Avenue regarding an assault and upon arrival was stopped by multiple witnesses.
One male witness said he was riding a motorcycle directly behind the male victim who was also riding a motorcycle southbound in the outside lane passing by the Econo Lodge, 1204 Central. The witness said he saw a white male, later identified as Blakley, standing on the sidewalk.
As the victim drove by, Blakley "sprinted into the roadway" and pushed the victim off his motorcycle "in a violent manner," while the victim was traveling at about 35 mph at the time.
The witness said after the victim was shoved off the motorcycle, he and the motorcycle both skidded down the inside and outside lane. A female witness riding in a car in the inside lane also told police she saw a man, later identified as Blakley, run into the road and push the victim off his motorcycle.
She said the driver of the car she was in had to swerve into the turn lane to avoid running over the victim's head.
Another male witness stated he was walking on the sidewalk and had seen Blakley "punching himself in the head repeatedly" moments before he "balled up his fist" and ran into the roadway as the motorcyclist drove by and "tackled the motorcycle."
The victim sustained minor injuries to his left arm and possible injuries to his head. Multiple witnesses reportedly stated the victim was almost hit by north- and southbound traffic after being knocked off his motorcycle.
The victim's Harley-Davidson motorcycle reportedly sustained about $1,000 in damages, including "deep gouges and scrapes" to the whole left side and broken handlebars.
When questioned, Blakley at first denied pushing the victim and then claimed he fell into the victim. After he was arrested and put into a police unit. Blakley became "very disorderly" and began slamming his face against the prisoner cage.
Blakley pleaded not guilty to the charges on Dec. 4 and on Jan. 18, a mental evaluation was ordered. On March 25, Blakley was found not fit to proceed and committed to the Arkansas State Hospital for treatment, so the case was put on inactive status.
After treatment, on Aug. 6, Blakley was ruled fit to proceed and a disposition hearing was set for Tuesday where he opted to plead guilty.
Local on 10/04/2019