Man pleads guilty to lesser charge after throwing boiling collards on his niece | Crime

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - A Montgomery man has agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge after a jury deadlocked on an assault in the first degree allegation relating to a December 2011 incident where he threw boiling collards on his niece.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office says Brian Crumpton offered to plead guilty to assault in the second degree after a Montgomery County jury deadlocked on an assault in the first degree charge relating to a December 2011 incident.

Crumpton turned himself in to police on January 6 after allegedly assaulting his niece on December 30, 2011. Police say Crumpton got into an argument with his niece, Jessica Crumpton West, while she was cooking a batch of collards. Crumpton had been drinking, and in the heat of the argument he threw the boiling collards on West.

West suffered severe burns as a result of this incident. She was treated at Jackson Hospital before being transferred to UAB Hospital for further treatment. Due to the severity of the burns and her body's reaction to the assault, both of her legs had to be amputated above the knee and her right arm was amputated below the elbow. She also suffered burns to her face, neck, chest and left arm.

The Montgomery DA's Office says everyone involved discussed Crumpton's decision to plead to a lesser charge and decided it was a "good outcome" because West would not have to go through another trial if the jury was declared hung; also because Crumpton is a family member.