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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 15, 2004 Violence spurs discussion By Bill Choy and Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings Coleman Price Nelson, 22, the former SOU student who police allege assaulted local actress and comedian Joanie McGowan almost two weeks ago, goes before a grand jury this week to see if charges will be upgraded. Joanie McGowan, in blue, is reflected in a mirror as she talks about her attack during a community meeting Monday night at the Hidden Springs Wellness Center. Below, McGowan's accused attacker Colman Price Nelson participated Saturday in SOU graduation ceremonies. He has earned a degree in criminal justice. Denise Baratta Ashland Daily Tidings Nelson is accused of assaulting McGowan a block from her home on Clay Street as she walked her bike home from a party June 3 at 2:30 in the morning. McGowan said she was approached by Nelson, who told her he was intoxicated, and after a short conversation the two parted. According to McGowan, Nelson followed her and punched her in the face from behind, causing damage to the right side of her face. She underwent 1 1/2 hours of surgery on Wednesday to repair the damage. "The surgery was extremely successful," she said. "They thought it was going to take two to three hours. I was surrounded by handsome doctors." Repairs were made to McGowan's orbital bone surrounding the right eye. McGowan said she will be in court to monitor the proceedings. The grand jury will meet on Friday. Nelson was originally charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. But Jackson County Assistant District Attorney Beth Heckert, after seeing McGowan's injuries and speaking with her in court June 4, decided to take the case before a grand jury to have charges upgraded to a felony second-degree assault. Nelson is free on $50,000 bond. According to Diane Brimmer, vice president of student affairs at SOU, until the case is disposed off through the court system, the school is unable take any action against Nelson, who has now graduated and is no longer in school. Joey Ngan, director of security and safety at SOU, said there was nothing in Nelson's demeanor on campus which would have indicated a need for a criminal background check. Nelson bonded out of jail in time to take his final exams. Although he walked with his class during SOU graduation ceremonies Saturday, the crowd sat in near-silence as he crossed the stage. Nelson is a former Raider wrestler who graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Monday night, more than 30 people met at Hidden Springs Wellness Center to discuss what happened to McGowan and ways to protect people in Ashland from such violent crimes. It was also suggested by McGowan and others to offer help to people like Nelson. The event was organized by Dennis Mead-Shikaly, a local organizer for The ManKind Project, an international men's organization. "It is not about blame, it's about healing and wellness," he said. The meeting was attended by members of the Ashland Police Department, staff at SOU, local men's group members, concerned citizens and representatives of the SOU Women's Resource Center. McGowan passionately told the audience the system needs to be changed to help both victim and assailant. She encouraged people to call Heckert and request that there be therapy and other service given to people accused of a violent crime. She also asked the audience to call Brimmer and ask that SOU work together with the police department to share information on those accused of a violent crime or sexual assault. This will help the police to see if there is a pattern of destructive behavior and violence, she said. McGowan hopes Nelson will receive help and wished him no ill will. "We want to be kind to him," she said. "We want to help him and bring out the good in him." McGowan said that the several recently reported sexual assaults on the SOU campus is evidence there is a climate of violence towards women in the community and that something needs to be done. Mead-Shikaly also suggested to have volunteer men help patrol SOU and other parts the community to ensure the safety of those in Ashland and to continue to have meetings. Lynnea Amend, student manager of the SOU Women's Resource Center was pleased to have a meeting like this to bring up the issue of violence against woman. "It's very good," she said. "I hope these meetings will continue. There's violence against women everyday in our community. We need to keep people aware of this." It appears insurance will pay for the majority of the $15,000 to $20,000 cost of her medical bills, McGowan said. A fund has been established for her to help pay for medical cost. McGowan said she plans to use any remaining money to start a fund to help pay for the medical cost of victims of random violent crime in Ashland. Community members have offered words of encouragement to McGowan and given money, food, flowers and gifts to her, she said. "I've been showered with help and love," she said. McGowan hopes what happened to her will serve as a catalyst of awareness of random violence and crimes against women in the community. "Hopefully, this will encourage the public to do something about it," she said. "This gives us a dose of reality and hopefully we'll take better care of each other." For more information on volunteering, additional meetings, or to donate to McGowan's fund, call Mead-Shikaly at 488-7800. 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