NORWICH – A Bainbridge man charged with assaulting his wife after a three-hour standoff with New York State Police appeared in court Friday to beg the judge for his release. The alleged victim claims the incident was a misunderstanding.
Michael D. Richardson, 33, surrendered to police negotiators outside his residence Dec. 10 in the Village of Bainbridge and was later charged with felony second degree assault.
According to a grand jury indictment handed down in January, the alleged victim in the case, Richardson’s wife, suffered multiple strikes to her face, causing a fracture to the right eye socket and leaving her unconscious with a concussion.
New York State Police Captain James E. Barnes said troopers were alerted to the potential hostage situation at around 8:21 a.m. when a 911 call was placed by a relative of the family reporting a domestic dispute. By approximately 11:40 a.m., Richardson willingly surrendered to police outside his residence at 6 Johnson St. in the Village of Bainbridge.
A patrol arrived on the scene shortly after the original complaint and immediately established a security perimeter, blocking off several side streets and a portion of State Route 7.
Troopers evacuated residents from the homes directly surrounding the area, the railroad ceased operation through the village and the nearby Bainbridge-Guilford Greenlawn Elementary School was placed on lock out during the incident.
Richardson’s public defender Alan Gordon told Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan Friday that his client could not afford the current $50,000 cash bail and that his wife was prepared to tell the court she accidentally fell down the stairs while under the influence of narcotics. He also said the family believed the incident was a miscommunication with law enforcement.
“At the time of the incident, the wife admits she was under influence of narcotics and fell down the stairs and hit her head,” said Gordon.
The wife, who was in court, also attended an appearance on Feb. 1 and urged the release of Richardson and asked that the charges against him be reduced or dropped, reported Gordon.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee said the remarks from the victims were “statements of complete denial.”
“I can’t believe you’re standing here representing such a position. It’s not in the best interest of your client or the victim,” Dunshee said to Gordon.
“These aren’t my versions of the events, I wasn’t there. It’s their version and I’m representing their side of the story, judge,” Gordon responded.
Richardson asked to make his case to the court and in a two-minute emotional appeal, he showed drawings his children had sent him in jail.
“I’ve missed Christmas, Thanksgiving. I’ve never been away from my children and family for so long, I just want to go back,” said Richardson through tears.
Sullivan ruled that the bail remain at $50,000.
