Kevin Farley, 45, was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault by Harlan City Police officer George Young after a fight on Rain Street at about 2 a.m.
Young testified that he responded to a call concerning a fight. When he arrived, Young found Alvin Gross (a brother of Kevin Farley's) with a weapon tucked inside his pants. Gross confirmed there had been a fight and directed the officer to a house a few doors down the street.
Young said he secured the weapon in Gross's possession, who also had involvement in the fight.
Young said he found Hobart Thomas at 511 Rain Street. He had apparently been hit in the head with an aluminum baseball bat and he was covered in blood. He said the situation was chaotic and he called for assistance.
Thomas' brother, Phillip Thomas, was reportedly hit in the upper body with the baseball bat. The Thomases and Farley are reportedly neighbors.
The altercation between Kevin Farley and Phillip Thomas was over apparent jealousy concerning a female acquaintance, according to Young.
Kevin Farley testified that he did not get into a fight with the Thomases over a woman. He claimed it was self-defense, and he added that he was trying to protect his property.
Farley said when he hit the Thomases with the bat, he was protecting himself.
“You fear for your life in cases like that, and I feared for my life, and I reacted, but when I seen everything was all right - I didn't just keep beating these people seven or eight times like they claimed I did,” Farley said.
The jury found Farley guilty in count one to a lesser charge than first-degree assault to second-degree assault for 10 years in prison, and count two, the jury found him guilty of second-degree and recommended a sentence of of 10 years in prison to run concurrently for a total of 10 years in prison.
Harlan Circuit Court Judge Ron Johnson told Farley he would be remanded to jail to await sentencing on May 31.
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