Teen given 4-year sentence

VERNON - A 17-year-old Jennings County High School student has been sentenced to six years in prison, with two years suspended, following an attack on a fellow student earlier this year.

Tyler Kissick, who was 16 at the time of the incident on Jan. 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a Class C felony of battery with serious bodily injury.

That stems from an incident where Kissick attacked a fellow student. The attack was caught on security video, and other students were present.

The victim received a broken nose, broken eye socket and related injuries, a press release from Jennings County Prosecutor Gary L. Smith said.

Charges were filed in juvenile court, and Smith requested that the case be transferred to adult court.

Following a contested transfer hearing on April 15, Circuit Court Judge Jon Webster entered an order sending the case to adult court.

At the contested sentencing hearing, evidence showed that Kissick waited for the victim and "sucker punched" him several times, the press release said. That included hitting the victim while he was on the ground.

Smith said Kissick also had made threats to the victim in the past.

Along with his sentence, Kissick must pay $5,700 in medical bills.

"This is a tragic case with serious consequences, but we simply will not tolerate this type of violence in the Jennings County School system," Smith said. "Both the victim and Kissick are fortunate the injuries were not more serious."