A Lincoln County supervisor who faced misdemeanor charges oftrespassing and simple assault on a 4-year-old boy last week inJustice Court maintains he never struck the child.

Whether District Three Supervisor Nolan Earl Williamson struckthe child during a Dec. 3 family scuffle was a subject of disputein court Friday.

“There was conflicting testimony about how and when the boy wasinjured,” said John Ott, a McComb lawyer who represented Williamsonat trial. “Nolan never testified that he struck the child,intentionally or not. What he did say was that the boy was beingsquashed underneath people who were fighting, and when he camerunning out from under them, Nolan put his arm out to protect thechild from falling off the front porch.

“He was trying to prevent injury, not cause it.”

Special Chancellor Larry Neal, of Leflore County, remanded thecase against Williamson and the other defendants, meaning judgmentand sentencing were withheld. Should any of the defendants crossthe law in the next six months, Neal said, he or she would besentenced.

Each trespassing and simple assault charge carries a maximumsentence of a $500 fine and six months in jail.