Accused abuser acquitted

CLOVIS — A Clovis man was acquitted Wednesday of multiple felony charges and convicted only of resisting arrest following a two-day jury trial.

Jonathan Taylor, 49, was charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery on a household member, assault with the intent to commit a violent felony, aggravated stalking, false imprisonment, and interference with communication.

"The charges basically stem from February 12 of 2015 and possibly a few months earlier than that," said his defense attorney, Tye Harmon. His conviction Wednesday for resisting arrest was connected to a March 12, 2015, SWAT standoff, when authorities came to arrest Taylor on those charges, said Harmon.

"My client from day one has said that the allegations were exaggerated and fabricated and false," added Harmon. "The alleged victim, we believe, was dishonest on the stand and got caught in several statements that were untrue. We believe it was an effort by her to try to obtain custody (of their children)."

Court documents filed April 2015 show Taylor with a variety of charges, including those for which he stood trial this week as well as three counts of abuse of a child, pertaining to alleged conduct in the years 2012 through 2014.

The latter charges were dropped before trial during an amended criminal information filing, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Stover, who represented the state's prosecution for the case.

"The outcome was not what the state had hoped for, but I certainly would never second-guess the decision of the jury," said Stover.

After being charged, Taylor was denied contact with his two minor children. He now intends to pursue visitation and custodial rights, said Harmon.

In a letter filed this month with the 9th District Court, Taylor lamented his children have been "wrongfully deprived of their father for more than two years."

"He was not allowed contact with his children during that time frame," Stover said, "and we believed that to be appropriate."

For his resisting arrest conviction, Tyler was sentenced to 364 days in jail, of which he will serve 30 days in custody and the remainder on supervised probation, in addition to "miscellaneous fees and fines," said Harmon.

"I think the jury did the right thing," added Harmon. "I can tell you on behalf of Mr. Taylor, as he told my office, that he praised God for the outcome of this trial."