Jonathan Meador, the freelance reporter who was assaulted by a low-level Republican activist while on assignment for LEO Weekly covering the party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday in Louisville, has filed criminal charges against his assailant.
Meador and an attorney for LEO met with two Jefferson County prosecutors this afternoon, and will pursue charges of fourth-degree assault and menacing, both misdemeanors, against J.D. Sparks, an activist and local businessman.
Sparks approached Meador, who was shooting video in the Galt House Ballroom before any of the Lincoln Dinner speakers began, and demanded he stop filming. Meador, who was credentialed for the event, refused. After attempting to take his video camera and deactivate it, Sparks — who was unprovoked — manhandled Meador, at one point pushing him against a wall. The two eventually tumbled through a pair of rear exit doors, and Sparks took off down the hallway.
Meador was left with cuts and bruises on his wrists and arms. (Read his account here, my Editor’s Note about the situation here, and watch video of the assault below.)
Prosecutors expect to decide within a week whether to pursue criminal charges against Sparks. Check fatlip.leoweekly.com for updates to this story.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwKPC3p6a_I[/youtube]
8 Comments
This is as hilarious as it is pathetic.
I think the assailant should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I’m a professional photographer locally and- although I’m one to make him swallow his teeth- I’ll let him get a few good one’s in so that I can sue him for everything he has and instead give the black eye to the Dark Force.
This is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! Especially since the photographer had a photo pass.
My condolences to the photographer who toughed it out. You’ll come out on top (with some good exposure), while the party who attacked you unprovoked has a hole to dig out of.
You’ll probably settle out of court. Use that $ to update some equipment and go after those people relentlessly. They’ll most certainly think twice before laying a hand on you!
Rock on fellow photographer!
Brian Bridgers Photography
whoops… didn’t let me post a picture. it was just a can of sparks. i was going to pour some out in memory of j.d.’s political aspirations mentioned in stephen’s column.
Please be sure and keep us up to date with any follow ups to this. I’m sure we all want to see justice done for Mr. Meador. I live in Oldham Co. and we don’t need someone like JD Sparks running for any kind of public office if that’s his m.o. UGH!
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
There’s no excuse for something like this. None.
I’ve seen some horrible stuff in this war…. but this is just awful.