Tue Feb 09 2010
Christopher T. Beagle Sr., 42, who has served about half of his one-year sentence for his role in the Bald Knob family feud shootout last September, is requesting shock probation for the remaining six months.
His father, Robert Beagle, is critically ill at Mount Olivet in Robertson County, and Beagle wants to go there to be with him, according to testimony Friday morning before Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd.
Beagle's attorney, George Sornberger, said Beagle has served a "significant" amount of his sentence and had shown good behavior when he was granted a two-week furlough from jail to move his family away from the St. Johns Road residence where the family feud occurred.
Shepherd said shock probation couldn't be granted until March 18 - 30 days after the final judgment in Beagle's case. Shepherd also said he wanted to talk with a probation and parole official about the matter before making a decision this week.
Beagle said if released, besides taking care of his father he can work doing handyman jobs. Beagle also said he plans to move his family away from Franklin County.
After court on Friday, Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland said he didn't feel giving Beagle shock probation "would be a bad thing because we could keep a watch over him for two years," - a longer period than if Beagle served out his one-year sentence.
Cleveland said Beagle was "not a bit of a problem" when he was granted a short furlough to get his family moved away from the Englers - the neighbors involved in the feud.
Beagle visited Cleveland's office regularly during his furlough to report that he was staying out of trouble, Cleveland said.
Beagle's mother, Dorothy Pointer of Frankfort, was crying in the courthouse hallway after Beagle's brief court appearance Friday. She was hoping her son would be released Friday.
"I'm begging and praying he gets out before his father dies," Pointer said. "He has colon cancer and it has spread to his liver and they have called in hospice. Chris is his baby boy and he wants be there to take care of his dad in his final days."
Pointer said she was married to Robert Beagle for 20 years.
Cleveland said later Friday he would agree to another furlough for Beagle from the Franklin County Regional Jail if his father's condition worsens before Wednesday - the earliest shock probation could be granted.
"We're not completely heartless," Cleveland said.
According to police the Beagle-Engler feud began with a stabbing on Christmas 2007 and escalated last September because of a romantic relationship between two young members of the feuding families.
Although two barrages of gunfire were reported, no one was injured. Police responded to a report of gunfire at 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 and confiscated two guns.
Rhonda Jones " a stepdaughter in the Engler family - said the hail of bullets shattered windows and left holes in walls.
"They were shooting out the back doors at each other," she said.
Police returned after receiving a report of additional shooting at 6:30 p.m. and took eight more guns, including shotguns and a "long-gun."
In late February as part of an agreement, Anthony Engler, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and was sentenced to two years probation.
In the plea agreement, Engler is prohibited from owning any firearms.
Christopher Beagle Sr. was indicted on nine counts of wanton endangerment for firing multiple shots at his neighbors, and two counts of second-degree assault for throwing a rock or brick at Kimberly and Anthony Engler.
He pleaded guilty to nine counts of second-degree wanton endangerment and two counts of fourth-degree assault - both misdemeanor offenses.
Also charged in the shootout were Christopher T. Beagle Jr., 18, and Mitchell Engler, 52.
Cleveland said the charges against Christopher Beagle Jr. were dismissed.
Charges against Mitchell Engler are still pending, Cleveland said.
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