A Lincoln County supervisor and several relatives who facedsimple assault and trespassing charges Friday avoided judgment andinstead were given the chance to heal a family rift without thecourt’s involvement.

Special Chancellor Larry Neal, of Greenwood, reserved passingsentence on the misdemeanor charges filed against District ThreeSupervisor Nolan Earl Williamson, his daughters Kim Richardson andJamie Carter, as well as on a simple assault cross-complaintagainst Chasity Carter Falvey, who also is a relative.

The charges, heard Friday in Lincoln County Justice Court,stemmed from a Dec. 3 altercation that erupted

after Williamson and his daughters went to a home where Falveyand her husband, former Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Capt.Lance Falvey, were visiting. Williamson and his daughters said theywere at the home regarding a child-visitation matter.

A fight among members of the extended family erupted outside thehome, and the Falveys’ 4-year-old son was injured. He was latertreated at a local emergency room.

Witnesses during Friday’s court proceedings indicated

Williamson struck the boy, but testimony was divided on whetherWilliamson intentionally hit the child.

Neal indicated that wasn’t the issue.

“Regardless of whether you were trying to hit the child or not,there is no doubt you did strike the child,” the judge toldWilliamson.

The judge said it was clear that members of both sides of theextended family had behaved poorly.

“We had a knockdown fight,” Neal said of the incident.”There

is no doubt you are all guilty. Nobody is innocent here today.And you know it deep down in your heart.”

But for the sake of the family, Neal said, he did not sentencethe defendants on the assault and trespassing charges that eachcarry a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and six months in jail.

Neal was appointed to hear the case after both Lincoln CountyJustice Court judges recused themselves.

Neal said he would pray the family members involved in thefracas could heal the rift between them. The judge also lecturedthe defendants on the effects of their behavior.

“You know who you’re hurting here? The grandbaby. You’re goingto put scars on her for the rest of her life,” said Neal, referringto the girl at the heart of the visitation issue.

Following the trial, Williamson said he should have handled thematter differently. He added there were reasons, which he did notshare, that he accompanied his daughters to the home.

“A fellow will do anything for their kids and theirgrandchildren,” Williamson said.

During testimony, Williamson said he joined his daughters to tryto prevent any trouble.