A View to a Knifing 3 (10/20/2005) in Keeping Safe

Today at about 3:30 was the sentencing hearing for Wiltern Bryan, who attacked me with a knife back on Birthington’s Washday. It went well, except for the defense attorney trying to imply that Mr Bryan had drawn the knife in response to being eye-poked by me. The judge noted that there had been two witnesses who had seen at least one of the moments when Mr Bryan had cocked and thrown a punch, to which in response I then eye-poked him.

Anyhow, I was given an opportunity to present a Victim Impact Statement. I had written something up on the plane yesterday evening, which looked to be rather wordy. Instead, however, I spoke off the cuff. It went something like this:

Mr Bryan, this will probably be one of the weirdest Victim Impact Statements you’ve ever heard, and I hope it will also be the last.

Back on February 21, although you didn’t intend to, you validated me. Not violated, but validated.

As I mentioned before, on October 18 through 20 of 2002, I took a self-defense course. After that, I ended up doing a bunch of hefty-duty counselling and therapy. I have emotional violence and physical violence in my history.

I guess, what I’m saying, is that, help is out there if you want it. It won’t be easy, and you’re going to have to do some very hard work. You’re probably going to cry too, I won’t kid you. I don’t know what kind of resources are available in jail, but, again, help is there if you want it and are willing to do the work involved.

After some last maneuverings by the defense and prosecuting attorneys, Judge Wood sentenced Wiltern Bryan to two years on the third-degree assault charge, and concurrently to thirty days on the fourth-degree theft charge.

After the hearing, I spoke with the prosecuting attorney. She was pleased to hear that while most victims of violent crimes have nightmares about their incidents, I myself have not had any such nightmares.

I’ll be back in the taxi this weekend, provided I can score a car. The Alaska Federation of Natives is in town, and there should be lots of business from these out-of-town visitors.

Last updated January 18, 2015