Assault case sentencing put off again

Kurtis Wayne Hedin, who was found guilty of assault on Sept. 10, returned to court for sentencing last Thursday. However, since Judge Dan Norheim was unhappy with his pre-sentencing report, Hedin will not be sentenced until a later date.

The judge told Hedin to cooperate with the probation officer in writing the report, ensuring he answered all questions and then return to court for sentencing.

Hedin said some of the questions “hit home and that’s why he failed to answer.”

“You think you’re going to control the process, and you’re not,” said Norheim, adding that Hedin would “cooperate or go to jail.”

Arguing that he was planning to appeal the sentence, Hedin told the judge he has “no other time for this” and was clearly frustrated by the judge’s decision.

While Hedin admitted that he did have an attitude problem, he argued that the report did not demonstrate that he was a real “people person” or any of the other positive things he had done.

“I do have a bad attitude. I’ve been working on it my whole life,” he said.

However, Norheim said that he was concerned by his bad record of failing to appear in court, and failing to comply with court orders.

Hedin was found guilty of assaulting a taxi driver outside Cavell Apartments on Aug. 11, 2009. The pair exchanged words before Hedin assaulted the driver.

During the trial last Sept., where Hedin represented himself, he was aggressive and repeatedly argued with the judge about the facts of the case.

“Your attitude is sick, and I have to question how you’re coping with society,” said Norheim during the trial. “You’re about to find out that you did (assault him) and if you keep talking you’ll go to jail now.”