Kathryn Knott Heads to Court Today to Ask Judge to Let Her Out of Jail Early
Kathryn Knott walks from the Criminal Justice Center Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in Philadelphia.
Update: Judge Roxanne Covington denied Knott’s motion in court this morning.
Original: In February, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Roxanne Covington sentenced Kathryn Knott to five to 10 months in jail for her role in a September 2014 attack on two gay men in Center City. Just over a month into that sentence, Knott and her lawyer are going to court this morning with a most novel idea: Release the convicted gay-basher from jail early and have her film a public service announcement instead.
Knott attorney William Brennan originally filed the motion on February 17th, within the 10-day window during which a defendant can ask a judge to reconsider a sentence. “[S]he could take the infamy of the arrest and maybe heal some wounds,” Brennan told Covington in February.
Monday’s hearing to consider the merits of Knott’s motion was originally scheduled for March 8th and then continued until today at Brennan’s request. The hearing will take place at the Criminal Justice Center on Filbert Street in Courtroom 908 at 9 a.m.
In addition to the jail time, Covington sentenced Knott to two years probation and ordered her to pay a $2,000 fine. She’s also not allowed to leave the state or enter Philadelphia, other than for court business.
At trial in December, a jury found Knott guilty of simple assault, conspiracy and reckless endangerment but acquitted her of two counts of aggravated assault, the far more serious charges. Last year, Knott’s codefendants entered a plea deal and did not receive any jail time.
According to courtroom testimony, Knott hit one of the two victims and used homophobic language against him.
A Change.org petition asking Covington to deny Knott’s request had received over 4,750 signatures as of Sunday night.
“She decided to go to court, was found guilty, and given a sentence,” wrote petition organizer Paula Roll. “Now she must serve it out.”
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