Charles City woman convicted for assaulting a police officer

A Charles City woman who assaulted a police officer last year has been convicted in circuit court.

Lisa Marie Groffel, 35, of the 3000 block of Barnetts Road, entered an Alford guilty plea during Oct. 24 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings. Under the Alford plea, Groffel maintains her innocence but stipulates that evidence is enough to convict her of the crime.

In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, on Oct. 2, 2013, Deputy Vicki Byrd responded to a domestic assault at the defendant’s residence. After a few moments that included the defendant barricading herself inside her home, Groffel was arrested and placed in the back of a police car. While inside the car, Groffel managed to remove the handcuffs from her hand and started to kick the window. Deputy Byrd returned to the vehicle and opened the door to handcuff the defendant again. Upon opening the door, Groffel lunged at Byrd and a physical altercation occurred, resulting to injuries to the deputy that included a bite mark. Another officer on the scene along with Byrd were able to secure the defendant once again and place her in custody.

During argument for sentencing, defense attorney Katherine Giannasi said her client has taken steps to address her issues, entering into a number of rehab programs. Giannasi’s view is that her client deserved probation to continue treatment and the felony charge should be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Tyler countered the defense attorney’s argument, saying Groffel’s actions weren’t the first time she has had a physical confrontation with another person.

“Her history shows that she continues to get involved in these actions,” Tyler said. “She gets drunk and that leads to her getting into these altercations.

“Why is she waiting now to get treatment when she had plenty of opportunities before?” added the commonwealth’s attorney, pointing to charges dating back as early at 1995. “It’s time for her to have a real punishment.”

Judge Thomas B. Hoover agreed with Tyler, saying the conviction will remain as a felony.

“This was an aggravated situation,” said the judge. “This was not a bump or a brush; this was a full-fledge fight with an officer.

“She has a record that justifies this charge remains as it was presents as a felony assault on a police officer,” Hoover concluded.

Groffel’s formal sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19. Sentencing guidelines recommends she serves a term of seven months to two years, one month. The felony carries a minimum mandatory sentence of six months to serve in jail.