A Kingston woman was convicted Wednesday of assaulting Las Cruces Sun-News reporter Ashley Meeks outside a hearing at the federal courthouse in a case involving her grandson.
Marjorie Reese Stewart, 75, was convicted of a misdemeanor assault charge and faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $5,000 fine and five years on probation, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
From the release:
“The evidence at trial established that on the afternoon of September 19, 2011, Reese Stewart and the reporter attended a proceeding in the case United States v. Reese, during which a U.S. District Judge overruled an order permitting defendant Remington Reese from being released to the custody of his grandmother, Reese Stewart, and ordered Remington Reese detained pending trial. After the proceeding, while the reporter was standing outside the courtroom, Reese Stewart elbowed the reporter ‘hard’ in the stomach as Reese Stewart walked out of the courtroom.
“Shortly thereafter, as the reporter approached a female acquaintance with the intention of greeting her and ascertaining if she had witnessed Reese Stewart elbow her, Reese Stewart extended her right arm and hand and grabbed the reporter by the neck and left shoulder. Reese Stewart then shoved the reporter away from the female without saying a word to the reporter. Reese Stewart walked away after speaking briefly with the female.
“After the reporter alerted a Deputy U.S. Marshal of Reese Stewart’s conduct, the Deputy Marshal reviewed video recordings from the security cameras in the courthouse and learned that one of the cameras had recorded Reese Stewart’s actions as she grabbed the reporter and shoved her away.
“Reese Stewart testified and admitted placing her hand on the reporter’s shoulder and moving her, but denied pushing or elbowing the reporter. The female acquaintance also testified in support of Reese Stewart’s defense.
“After hearing the testimony and reviewing the video-tape, Magistrate Judge Lynch found Reese Stewart guilty of simple assault.”