By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Maverick Pifer appeared before Judge Courrier in Circuit Court October 15th for sentencing following his guilty plea last month to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful restraint. The guilty plea stemmed from a plea deal that saw all other charges dismissed. Pifer appeared in court along with his attorney Brent Easton. Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Savannah Hull Wilkins represented the State in the matter.
Wilkins recommended a year served as home confinement to be served along with the terms of a companion civil case. Wilkins related that Pifer wants a relationship with his child, but that she feels he is not ready for overnight visits as of yet. “There’s some trauma as a result of what has occurred,” Wilkins said. “When you hurt a child there should be some punishment for that.”
Attorney Easton asked the Court that his client be placed on probation. He described his client’s relationship with the child as good and described the day leading up to the incident as good, as well. According to Easton, when the child would not go or stay in bed spanking just “went overboard” and it was never Pifer’s intention to injure the child. “Mr. Pifer cannot continue to develop his relationship with his daughter if he’s confined to his home,” Easton said.
Judge Courrier said he shared Wilkins concerns with the case, but stated there were a lot of positives with the case, among which was the positive work that Pifer has done in the companion case. Pifer was sentenced to probation of three years with the possibility of release after a year with special circumstances: he must continue to do what is required by the companion case; serve three months home confinement with work release; and pay supervision, home confinement and court costs.