North Carolina man sentenced to 20 years in local assault case

Jul. 3—WILLIAMSBURG — A North Carolina man was officially sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday afternoon after a Whitley County jury convicted last month of four counts of third-degree Assault (on a police officer) as well as Terroristic Threatening, Resisting Arrest, and being a first-degree Persistent Felony Offender.

Brandon Howard Oakley, 31, of Charlotte, NC, had been indicted in connection to an incident last September in which Williamsburg Police received a call about an argument between a male and female at East West Market along US 25W.

During that encounter, Officer Steven Hill and Officer Dorman Patrick Jr. were injured while arresting Oakley. Ofc. Hill was kicked in the face and Ofc. Patrick suffered a broken finger and possible fractured finger to his right hand.

WPD reported at the time that Oakley spit on both officers as well as other first responders, fought and resisted arrest for several minutes. He was also accused of assaulting an ER hospital staff member.

Commonwealth's Attorney Ronnie Bowling attributed the jury's recommendation of the maximum sentence to hearing Oakley's extensive criminal history without significant punishment from his home state.