JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - A man accused of shooting a Johnson City TV weatherman in the chest with a crossbow has pleaded guilty to an assault charge.
The Johnson City Press reports 53-year-old Gerald Taylor entered the plea Friday in Washington County Criminal Court.
Taylor was indicted on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and unlawful possession of a weapon for the June 4 attack on Rob Batot, who is known professionally on WJHL-TV as Rob Williams. The newspaper reports the burglary charge was reduced to aggravated criminal trespassing and the weapon charge was dismissed.
Taylor's attorney, Matt Spivey, indicated he would ask for judicial diversion, but prosecutors said they would oppose the request.
Sentencing was set for March 4.