COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A September 15 sentencing hearing has been scheduled after one of two suspects in a South Monroe Street pepper spray incident last February entered into a plea agreement with Branch County Prosecutors.
According to Branch County court records, 25-year-old James Ryall entered a plea of no contest to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon last Friday in Branch County Circuit Court during a motion hearing.
In exchange for the plea, a second count of assault with a dangerous weapon will be dismissed by prosecutors.
The plea came two days after Ryall was convicted by a Branch County District Court jury on a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct in connection with videotaping incidents at the Skate Park and the Recreation Center in Heritage Park three nights before the South Monroe confrontation.
Ryall testified in his defense that he was practicing journalism while he was videotaping.
21-year-old Dakota McDaniel is facing the same charges in connection with the incident in downtown Coldwater. A pre-trial conference for McDaniel is scheduled for next Monday.
The February 8 incident was reported outside of Jim’s Place and was captured on the City of Coldwater’s South Monroe Street camera.
According to court documents, the two suspects wore masks as they videotaped outside of the business. The alleged victims told police the masked individuals approached them after they came out of the business, began recording them and when they reached out their hands, they were pepper sprayed.
A physical confrontation took place after the alleged victims appeared to reach for the suspects cameras. A Life Care Ambulance crew treated the two men who were sprayed.
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