Back in 2013, we covered the brutal attack suffered by David Via while standing outside prior to a house concert where he was set to perform. The talented Virginia singer/songwriter was seriously injured when he was knocked from the porch and struck his head on a truck bumper going down.
His attacker, Kenneth Lynn Seagroves, then attempted to run David over with his truck before escaping from the scene. He was later picked up by police, who have never described a clear motive for this seemingly random act of violence.
David suffered severe facial injuries which required that his jaw be wired shut for a period of time, quite a career obstacle for a singer and stage performer. He was also treated for the effects of a concussion.
We have been in touch this week with Richard Avery, an attorney in Morganton, NC, who is consulting on the case, State of North Carolina vs. Kenneth Lynn Seagroves (14 CRS 499, Burke County). It has been set on the trial calendar for the term beginning today. Avery is a friend of David’s who worked with the Burke County Sheriff’s Department to facilitate the original misdemeanor charges being converted to felony charges at the Grand Jury.
Seagroves is charged with the felony of Assault Inflicting Serious Injury (fractured jaw, lost teeth, concussion), the felony of Assault with a Deadly Weapon (attempted to run over Via with a truck), and the misdemeanor of Communicating Threats (threatening to run over Via and others present).
Apparently Seagroves was given the option of deferred prosecution so that he could make full restitution to David, but he failed to do so within the year he was given to comply. So now the case moves forward.
Richard says that David Learner, their District Attorney, and his Assistant Frank Webster, are preparing for trial and hope that a disposition will be made either in court or through a plea in the near future.
“Because we are the home of the Red, White and Bluegrass festival and have a strong local tradition of bluegrass, and local musicians that have contributed in many ways to the genre, we want to make sure that justice is obtained in this case for David Via who was truly an innocent victim of random and unprovoked violence.”
Let’s all hope to see this resolved in short order so that David can move forward with his life. We’ll report on the results should the case go to trial.
