A 37-year-old Florida man named James Anderson has been sentenced to six years in prison after biting off a chunk of flesh from a deputy's head. Grisly images show that the wound was so serious that the deputy's skull was exposed as a result.
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According to a State Attorney's Office, the incident took place on May 5, 2024. At the time, the deputy was at the SolFest music festival, which had gathered 10,000 people at the venue in Ponce de Leon. All of a sudden, Anderson unsuccessfully tried to pull the deputy's gun from his holster. He would then attack the deputy, biting off a chunk of flesh from his head and exposing his skull as a result.
According to the New York Post, James Anderson was working as a volunteer at the festival. At the time, investigators claimed he was under the influence of several substances. These included PCP, LSD, ketamine, mushrooms, and ecstasy. Anderson's attorney, Mitch Stone, claims his client never tested positive for any drugs. After he violently attacked the deputy, Anderson even complained that he had "hair in his teeth."
Sentenced
As per The Kansas City Star, Anderson resisted being tased, requiring the help of multiple officers. He was arrested and charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer. The defendant, according to the State Attorney's Office, was ready to move on with the trial. The deputy reportedly had witnesses and evidence ready.
The trial was not necessary as James Anderson pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Russell Roberts sentenced him to six years in prison. Subsequently, he will serve 10 years of felony probation. Should the case have gone to trial, Anderson could have faced decades in prison, according to Stone, his attorney.
"Violence against our local law enforcement officers will not be tolerated, and criminals that make the choice to do so will be held responsible," prosecutor Jacob Cook said. "This is the most severe bite wound I have ever seen in my career as a prosecutor, and this defendant is going to spend the next several years in prison, paying for his violent actions."
