A judge last week denied Kathryn Knott’s request to be released early from prison.
An attorney for Knott submitted a petition June 10 for an “earned time, good time” release, which allows petitioners to be released before the minimum time limit on their sentence if they have behaved as model inmates. The request came as Knott entered her fourth month of her five-to-10-month prison sentence for her role in a September 2014 gay bashing in Center City.
Knott’s attorney, Bill Brennan, told PGN he submitted to the court attestations from Riverside Correctional Facility, where Knott has been housed since her Feb. 8 sentencing, that she has been an “exemplary inmate.”
“She’s had no write-ups, which you can get if you’re in a fight, or insolent or insubordinate or don’t follow directions,” Brennan said. “She’s been performing her duties — cleaning toilets — and has been a model inmate. Inmates are given this reward, if you will, where the minimum sentence is slightly reduced and they have the opportunity to be released slightly early with ‘earned time, good time.'”
Common Pleas Court Judge Roxanne Covington, who oversaw Knott’s December trial, denied the request without comment.
Brennan said he plans to again petition the court for release once Knott reaches the five-month minimum of her sentence July 8.
“It’s really the norm for someone who has behaved themselves to be released at the minimum. That’s the way the system is designed to work,” Brennan said. “I’m cautiously optimistic that she will not be singled out for any reason because it really is the norm that, if you’ve behaved yourself, you are eligible for release at the minimum.”
Knott was convicted by a jury of four misdemeanor charges in regards to the attack on Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught at 16th and Chancellor streets. Prosecutors say Knott, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams physically and verbally harassed the gay couple. Harrigan and Williams accepted plea deals and were sentenced to community service and probation.
Once she is released, Knott will have to serve two years’ reporting probation, during which time she will be prohibited from entering Center City Philadelphia.
Knott will also be facing two separate lawsuits: a civil suit filed last month by the victims and a federal suit from a Norristown woman who says she was unfairly terminated by her employer after posting online comments critical of Knott.