Popular gospel singer, James Fortune, plead guilty Tuesday to assaulting his wife.
The incident occurred in October 2014. Investigators say that Fortune hit his wife with a wooden vanity stool. He also kicked her and threw her against a wall.
Fortune accepted a plea deal to a third degree felony charge of assault – family violence. Fortune must complete five years of probation plus five days in jail. He must also serve 175 hours of community service, complete a “batterer’s intervention” program and stay away from his wife.
A statement by his wife was read in court. “I hope in all of this you get help. Serious help. Although this probation might be like a slap on the wrist, I hope you look at it as a moment to better yourself and change something within you for your future.”
Fortune took to Instagram to release a statement of his own. “I want to make a public apology to my family, friends, and supporters for not being above approach,” said Fortune. “Please pray that during this process God continues to perfect and restore me so that I become a better man, Father and Christian.”
Despite the fact that he plead guilty, apparently Fortune maintains that he does not condone domestic violence, calling the incident an “altercation” instead. “Despite the accusations and media embellishments, I am not a supporter of domestic violence,” said Fortune. “I do take full responsibility for my participation in the altercation, and have been seeking spiritual and professional guidance to improve my anger management and emotional discipline for over a year now. I will continue to do so. Thank you for your continued prayers.”
This is not the first time Fortune has been involved in a case of this manner. In 2002 he took a plea deal for six years of probation after burning his four-year-old son in hot water. According to investigators, Fortune told them it was a form of discipline. His son was burned over 40% of his body.
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