Kalie Rutledge, age 23, was sentenced to three years of supervised probation with an initial 90 days in jail for the assault of two Chinese ASU students. The defendant pled guilty to one count of Class 6 felony assault.
Rutledge will receive credit for 38 days of presentence incarceration, and will be required to pay restitution, and participate in mental health, as well as drug and alcohol screening to address the circumstances of these offenses.
On May 20, 2016, two students, a male and a female, were riding the light rail to Tempe from a Phoenix Mercury basketball game. As the victims were speaking to each other, Rutledge launched into a tirade of obscene comments and racial epithets directed at the victims.
When the two victims left the light rail, Rutledge ran up to the female victim and punched her in the face, breaking her orbital bone; she immediately fell to the ground. The male victim stepped between Rutledge and the female victim. Rutledge then swung at his face as well, knocking his glasses off.
Rutledge left the light rail station on foot. Nearby witnesses alerted the police who were able to locate her walking away from the area. Witnesses and the victims were able to identify Rutledge and an officer also confirmed the victims’ and witnesses’ statements by watching light rail surveillance video.
The State has requested a restitution hearing to address the victim’s current out of pocket costs associated with this offense. The Court will address additional restitution related to future surgical costs as they occur.