FRANKLIN
A Franklin man is in custody at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail following his arrest in Southampton County on charges of assault during the commission of a felony and two counts of malicious wounding in which the victim was left permanently impaired, according to Lt. Camden Cobb, spokesman for the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office.

On Oct. 27, deputies arrested James Kenneth Rhoten Jr., 29, of Williams Street, Franklin. Cobb said that all three charges originated in Suffolk.

Diana Klink, spokeswoman for the City of Suffolk and the Suffolk Police Department, said that the charges stem from an early morning stabbing incident that occurred on Aug. 21 at a residence in the 1700 block of Martin Road in the Eclipse community. Suffolk emergency dispatchers received a call at 1:11 a.m. advising of an adult male who was assaulted by acquaintances.

The victim, whom Suffolk Police identified as Charles Arthur Barnes, 22, of Suffolk, received emergency medical assessment and treatment by Suffolk Fire and Rescue personnel and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

Due to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, Klink could not elaborate on how Barnes’ injuries — though deemed non-life threatening at the time —  resulted in permanent impairment.

Following the police investigation, Rhoten and a second man, Jacob Richard Zeno, 19, also of Franklin, were both eventually charged with malicious wounding and assault during the commission of a felony. Zeno and Rhoten were both arrested on the day of the incident, but Rhoten was initially only charged with simple assault and released on bond. A grand jury indicted Rhoten on the malicious wounding and assault charges on Oct. 25.

Rhoten is now being held without bond.