Richard Ojeda
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate candidate who was attacked at a cookout over the weekend said Monday that he’s known his alleged assailant since they were kids.
Jonathan Porter, 41, faces charges of malicious assault, attempt to commit a felony and destruction of property in the beating of Richard Ojeda, who’s running against state Sen. Art Kirkendoll, D-Logan, in today’s Democratic primary.
Ojeda said he was at a cookout in the Whitman area of Logan County at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday when Porter, whom he hadn’t seen in years, attacked him.
Porter, who lives in the Whitman Creek area, turned himself in around 6 p.m. Sunday, according to State Police Trooper Z.S. Holden.
In an interview from his hospital room at Charleston Area Medical Center’s General Hospital on Monday, Ojeda said Porter showed up at the cookout and told the candidate he wanted a bumper sticker.
“I’ve known him since I was like around 7…