A Columbus businessman who pleaded guilty to domestic violence/aggravated assault is back in jail on simple assault charges.
John Alan Redden, 51, of 500 Riverside Drive, turned himself into the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday afternoon after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest for violation of suspended sentence.
The bench warrant stems from an incident that allegedly occurred on June 28 when Redden is alleged to have physically assaulted a 13-year-old girl.
According to an incident report filed with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Redden entered the home of Pam Robertson and got into an argument with her teen-aged daughter. The report states that Redden grabbed the child by the chin and then smashed her phone.
Two warrants were issued for Redden’s arrest, one for simple assault and one for malicious mischief. He was arrested last Wednesday and posted bond.
Redden is currently on unsupervised probation for a domestic violence charge from 2011. In February, Redden pleaded guilty to the charge of domestic violence/aggravated assault. Lowndes County Circuit Court Judge Lee Coleman sentenced Redden to five years in prison but suspended the sentence and placed Redden on unsupervised probation, a sentence which is virtually unheard of. Domestic violence/aggravated assault carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Redden has a prior felony conviction for possession of gambling machines.
Last week, the district attorney’s office filed a petition to revoke Redden’s probation.
Tuesday, an affidavit was signed and a bench warrant was issued for Redden’s arrest for violation of suspended sentence. A hearing is set for Aug 19 at 9 a.m., the first day of the August term of circuit court.
Redden is currently in the custody of the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center where he will remain until the hearing.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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