ROSWELL, N.M. – It was chaos in the courtroom when a child molester attacked a prosecutor right after he was found guilty of the charge and the whole thing was caught on camera.
“I have never seen this happen, ever. I mean I have seen it on TV but I’ve never experienced it or seen it in person,” said KaeDea Smith, the officer who took the attacker down.
Last Wednesday, 31-year-old Michael Cox charged at Deputy District Attorney Scot Key, shoved him to the ground and then tried to punch him.
The attack set off a panic with people jumping out of their seats, including the judge, as deputies tackled Cox. The prosecutor also tried to jump in for some payback.
Cox had just been found guilty of criminal sexual contact for fondling a girl.
The attorneys had just approached the judge for a sidebar when the chaos erupted.
“I was able to get a hold of the defendant and use the least amount of force possible to go ahead and detain him to get him under control,” said Smith.
Now, Cox could be in more trouble. The sheriff’s office is reviewing the tapes to looking at what possible charges could be filed.
They say that the quick thinking of Deputy Smith defused what could have been a much worse situation.
“Our deputy was immediately in there and took control. Of course our priority is that we have to maintain the safety of the courtroom and all those involved to include the counsel, the judge, the jury and also the suspect,” said Under-Sheriff Daron Syling.
Cox has not been sentenced yet for child molestation charge.
