A former campaign volunteer for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was sentenced Monday to serve a year on probation and pay $600 in restitution for his role in an assault last October outside a Senate debate in Lexington.
Timothy Profitt's lawyer entered an Alford plea on his behalf in Fayette District Court to misdemeanor assault. An Alford plea means Profitt did not admit guilt but acknowledged that there is sufficient evidence to convict him.
Profitt, formerly of Paris, did not attend Monday's hearing and since has moved away from Central Kentucky, said his attorney, Michael Dean.
"I don't want to say where he lives now because he was getting a lot of harassment for a while," Dean said.
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The assault, captured on video and shown nationally, occurred outside the KET studios on Cooper Drive after Paul arrived to debate his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Jack Conway.
Lauren Valle, an activist with the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org, tried to get close to Paul to present him with a mock award. After Paul supporters wrestled Valle to the ground, Profitt stepped on her shoulder and neck. Profitt later said he feared the woman was going to attack Paul.
Valle reported suffering a minor concussion, bruising, soreness and a sprained arm as a result.
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