Trial Date of January 6, 2027, Set in Misdemeanor Assault & Battery Case Against Hugh Henry

After a brief 5- to 10-minute hearing in Warren County General District Court on Tuesday afternoon, October 13, a trial date of January 6, 2027, on the 1 p.m. docket was set for Warren County Fork District Supervisor Hugh Henry in his physical altercation with citizen social media critic Jay Newell following the August 18 supervisors’ meeting. Both Henry and Newell were present for the trial date setting.

Henry faces a misdemeanor Assault & Battery charge after shoving Newell to the ground amidst a verbal confrontation as Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputies approached the two men in the parking lot. No charges were filed at the scene, as Newell initially declined medical treatment and refused to file a charge against Henry.

A still photo shows deputies separating Supervisor Hugh Henry, left in white, and a man identified as Jay Newell in a red top at the far right of the photo, following the August 18 meeting of the WC BOS. – Royal Examiner File Photos Roger Bianchini

However, that changed the following day, as reported in an August 20 WCSO press release on the evolving situation:

“At the scene, the victim stated that he did not wish to pursue charges and declined medical attention. No arrest was made, and deputies did not issue a summons at the scene. Deputies obtained statements from both parties and completed a full incident report documenting the event … With the parties separated, the incident concluded, and the victim declining both medical care and charges, deputies exercised … discretion and preserved all evidence and statements.

“On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the victim sought medical treatment and contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report that he now wished to pursue charges.”

With the incident now headed to court as a Misdemeanor A&B case, the Sheriff’s Office has declined further comment.

As previously reported, from Henry’s August 18 Board Report comments he apparently believed Newell’s social media posts on county business were innacurate and slandered him in a profane manner. In fact, Henry was cited in the later meeting Censure Resolution as quoting from a Newell posting without censorship during his August 18 board meeting report. Those comments culminated in what seemed like a challenge to citizens to settle their differences outside where their cars were parked after the meeting.

Henry apologized during the BOS meeting, where he was officially censured for his August 18 comments and the resulting post-meeting confrontation with social media critic Jay Newell.

Pre-censure resolution vote: Henry, who abstained from voting, was apologetic for his behavior. He noted he should have listened to his own earlier, non-confrontational observations about social media posts and reactions.