Jamie Maxie sentenced to 8 years for beating Ohio pastor
A self-described atheist in Ohio has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attacking and beating a pastor back in October.
Ohio Rev Norman Hayes after the attack by James Maxie
Jamie Maxie, age 28, accepted a plea deal in Clark County Common Pleas Court, agreeing to plead guilty to second degree felony assault in exchange for having a charge of resisting arrest dropped. In court, Maxie faced his official sentencing of eight years.
“I’ve totally ruined my life,” Maxie read from an apology written on crumpled paper. “My girlfriend watched in terror as I did this. My girlfriend’s family suffered. My mom and dad suffered the embarrassment of what I did.”
Rev. Norman Hayes was attacked and beaten by Maxie. Photos of Hayes showing his broken nose, bruises and three long cuts on his face that required stitches, went viral across the Internet.
Maxie made comments about Adolf Hitler before service began and “heckled” Hayes while he was at the pulpit.
Maxie and the girlfriend, who attends the church, approached Hayes after the service. She told police that Hayes asked her if Maxie was abusing her, and Maxie became furious, striking pastor several times in the face in the church hallway.
Hayes told reporters following the sentencing that he forgives Maxie.
“I would want him to know going into prison hearing from me that I’ve extended forgiveness for him,” he said. “[Forgiveness] is a gift. It’s something that you can’t earn.”
“I really do hope that he will learn the lesson that life is not just about yourself. It’s about how what I do affects other people,” Hayes stated.
Photoof Hayes is a screenshot from video coverage: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/pastor-attacked-church-police-say/nbTNt/
