Man gets 20 years for assault with bat

A Madison man was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison after he was convicted of assaulting his father-in-law with a baseball bat, District Attorney John K. “Bubba” Bramlett, Jr. announced

The man, John Garran Saxton, 33, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 1, by Judge Bradley Mills. He was accused of hitting his father-in-law in the head with a baseball bat. 

Mills ordered Saxton to serve 20 years with the last two suspended leaving 18 years to serve.

Saxton was convicted on one count of aggravated assault in an October 26, 2022, trial, Bramlett said.

“This is a great example of the importance of jurors showing up for trial,” Bramlett said. “This is a dangerous man who had a history of domestic violence which ultimately ended up with him seriously assaulting his father-in-law. Both the guilty verdict and 18-year sentence ensure that this family will not have to endure his violent outbursts anymore as well as punishing him for his actions.”

On August 24, 2021, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was called to a home in the Ashbrooke subdivision regarding a domestic incident, Bramlett said. Upon arrival they found a 62-year-old man lying on the ground with a severe head wound. 

Saxton, had first slapped his mother-in-law and then pulled a gun on the victim and attacked him with a bat. Pafford transported the man to the hospital where he had skull fractures and suffered permanent hearing loss in both ears.

During a sentencing hearing held on Feb. 1, the victim of the assault and his daughter, who was married to Saxton at the time, spoke and pleaded for substantial prison time, Bramlett said. 

“They described Saxton’s prior domestic violence and anger issues as well as highlighting the permanent injuries suffered by the victim,’ Bramlett said.