Father and Son Dispute in Lower Providence Leads to Son's Court Supervision

A fracas between a son and his father that occurred in Lower Providence last September has resulted in the son, 29-year-old James Richard Torrence of East Tulpehocken Street, Philadelphia, being placed under court supervision due to charges that he assaulted his father using a tool that was possibly a crowbar or wrench, according to Montgomery Life.

In Montgomery County Court Torrence was sentenced to eight months and 15 days already served to 23 months in jail on misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person and simple assault due to the altercation at the home of his father, Martin, along the 3300 block of Arcola Road in Lower Providence last year on the evening of September 27.

Torrence was also ordered to complete two years of probation after being paroled from jail.  Essentially, the sentence means that Torrence will undergo court supervision for approximately four years.  Further, the judge ordered Torrence to complete an anger management program and to have no contact with his father during the sentence.

After a March jury trial Torrence was acquitted of more serious felony charges of attempting to cause or causing serious bodily injury, and aggravated assault.

Affording to the arrest affidavit, the father said that his son hit him on the head with a wrench.  His son said that his father had first choked and attacked him, and the son was using the wrench to defend himself.

According to defense lawyer V. Erik Petersen, “It’s obviously a broken family. This event certainly did not need to happen and it’s a shame that it did happen”