Man Gets Probation for Allegedly Attacking Woman on Sonoma County Trail

By Bay City News

SANTA ROSA (BCN) - A Kenwood man accused of attacking a woman after their dogs got into a fight pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and theft charges this morning in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Paul Mott, 53, was then sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of volunteer work. Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite also ordered Mott to attend eight weeks of anger management classes.

Mott was initially charged with felony grand theft and misdemeanor battery for throwing the woman's cellphone in Lake Suttonfield and attacking her at the Sonoma Developmental Center's property near Glen Ellen on Sept. 22.

The 60-year-old woman claimed Mott attacked her after her dog and his Australian shepherd got in a fight.

She said Mott crossed his dog's leash around her neck, yelled at her, threw her phone in the lake when she threatened to take his picture and ripped her glasses off her face, according to Sonoma police.

Mott was arrested on Sept. 24 for the assault after he turned himself in to police.

Defense attorney Richard Ingram said Mott maintains he was defending his dog.

"My client is sorry for what happened," Ingram said after Mott was sentenced.

"Absolutely," Mott added.

Ingram said the misdemeanor battery charge can include simple assault or any offensive touching.

He said the resolution of the case was fair because both charges are misdemeanors.

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