A Johnson City man charged with shooting his ex-boyfriend with a crossbow pleaded guilty to the charge Friday in Washington County Criminal Court.
Gerald Taylor, 53, was originally charged with attempted first-degree murder and especially aggravated burglary for the assault on Rob Batot, known professionally on WJHL-TV as weatherman Rob Williams, at Williams’ home, where Taylor also once lived. But after reviewing the case further, the District Attorney General’s Office reduced the charges to aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and perjury.
The perjury charge, lodged after Taylors’s arrest, resulted from what prosecutors say was a lie on Taylor’s affidavit of indigency, a court document detailing a defendant’s financial situation so a judge can determine if that person qualifies for a court-appointed attorney, which is what happened.
Once the case got to criminal court, Taylor was ordered to hire an attorney because by that time, he had already posted a $121,000 bond through B&F Bonding. That means he paid the bonding company $1,210 plus tax to get out of jail. Judges feel that if a defendant has money to pay a bondsman to get released from jail, they should have money to hire an attorney.
In the plea Friday, the burglary charge was reduced further because it was based on Taylor violating an order of protection. Assistant District Attorney General Erin McArdle said that order had not yet been fully implemented by a judge, so the charge was reduced to aggravated criminal trespassing. Additionally, the weapon charge was dismissed.
Taylor entered a “blind plea,” to the charges, which means there was no agreement from prosecutors on a sentence. Judge Robert Cupp set a sentencing hearing for March 4. Taylor’s attorney, Matt Spivey, also indicated he will apply for judicial diversion in the case.
McArdle said the state will oppose that type of disposition.
She said Taylor told the judge he went to Williams’ home after becoming bored while staying at a hotel, apparently to retrieve a toy crossbow. Taylor apparently didn’t think Williams would be home at that time of night. The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. June 4, 2012. Williams works the early morning news shift at WJHL-TV, and likely would have already been at work. But he was apparently off that day.
Taylor told Cupp that when Williams saw him with the crossbow “he went crazy,” according to McArdle.
The incident happened at 11 Ashworth Court, where the two men had lived for more than 10 years when their relationship ended, according to Williams’ testimony during a preliminary hearing in June.
Williams had also filed a petition for an order of protection against Taylor just a few days before the attack. Taylor apparently entered the house that night through a bedroom window and surprised Williams in his bedroom.
Williams retreated into a bathroom after being shot with the crossbow bolt, then exited after Taylor fired one gunshot. It was later determined Taylor fired the shot into the floor right outside the bathroom door.
Taylor is free on bond while the case is pending.
Police previously said Taylor shot bullets at Williams, but that was later clarified. No shots were fired at Williams as he fled from the house and called 911. When officers arrived, Taylor was located nearby sitting on a dock.
Iwanttoknow writes:
February 8, 2013
5:12 PM
I sure would like to know how people like this get charges like that reduced and will probably do very little time for his unpardonable attack on Mr. Batot. I know that a LOT of other people have been railroaded into years of jail or prison time for just a small pack of weed ! What if he had shot just a few inches higher with that "toy" crossbow and hit a jugular vein or eye or even into Rob's heart resulting in his death. Would THAT constitute anything stronger than simple assault ?
lowplaces88 writes:
February 8, 2013
6:02 PM
This response is directed at Iwanttoknow. If you knew all the facts, you would understand how and why the charges were reduced. I know both of these men personally and they are both very fine human beings. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Batot had been in a relationship for many many years, the house where all of this took place belonged to both of them, check the county register's office and you will see that the property is vested in both their names and the mortgage on the property is in both their names as well, and at the time that Mr. Taylor went into the house, the order of protection process was not complete with the courts, so he could not have violated the order and tell me, how do you break into your own home? This relationship was similar to a married couple splitting up because one of the parties was cheating. I, for one, think that the charges should be reduced even more, if not thrown out completely, because this was nothing more than an exaggerated lovers' spat and would not be getting the attention it is getting if Mr. Batot was not a public figure.
sugar2 writes:
February 8, 2013
6:30 PM
my view on this is the charges shouldnt of been reduced , it doesnt matter if they were married, the point is there is a history of harrassment, and obviously if rob w felt enough to get an order of protection, it was needed, and imo that has been proven by this incident. he used two weapons, not just one, and thats crock that he didnt think he would be home at 330 am; who goes to someones house with a gun at that time of morning to just pay a visit and he went in via the window. if things are so amicable, why didnt he use his key to his door?? I imagine it would have been ok if he woulda just shot and killed him because their relationship had ended. What good is an oop if its not upheld and its meaning isnt taken into account. He better be glad im not the judge, regardless of mr willliams is a public figure or not.
sugar2 writes:
February 8, 2013
6:32 PM
i agree with iwanttoknow because had it been anyone else, they would have had the book thrown at them
justmyopinion2012 writes:
February 10, 2013
1:13 PM
I agree iwanttoknow. I, too, was shocked that almost everything was reduced, as if Mr. Taylor's behavior was acceptable and perfectly "normal". lowplaces88, you may or may not know Mr. Taylor, but his actions don't classify him as a "very fine human being". He behaved like a lunatic. Whether you have a ten year history with a spouse, lover, etc., you don't resort to self-help and climb in someone's window at 3:30 a.m. whether or not you think he or she is home. This classifies as "crazy" and ill-advised. sugar2 is correct. If everything is on the up and up, you use your key to enter through the front door.
MannyCalavera writes:
February 11, 2013
6:54 AM
"People Shot With Crossbows Between The Years 2000 And 2013" is a very exclusive list.
good-guy writes:
February 13, 2013
2:30 PM
lowplaces88, I think you do not know all of the facts. Just read the news stories.
Mr. Taylor shot Mr. Williams with a crossbow. Not a toy. Mr. Williams was rushed to the hospital, and held for 18 hours. Not a accident. Mr. Taylor also had a pistol which he fired, and the police found him with a pistol. Mr. Taylor broke into the house at 2 or 3 in the morning.
Not the actions of an innocent man.
Also, the story which Mr. Taylor communicated to the judge is laughable. If anything it proves that he has no guilt, and does not want to take responsibility for his actions. A true loser!!
My personal opinion is that the Assistant District Attorney is not doing his job, and is taking the easy way out.
lowplaces88, please get your facts straight.
good-guy writes:
February 13, 2013
2:33 PM
I believe that "Iwanttoknow" has the correct view here.
"lowplaces88" There was no "toy crossbow". Just check the new articles. There was a real crossbow and a real pistol. And the guy climbed in through an empty window in the wee hours of the morning.
provided.