A mugshot of the suspect has not been provided by the V.I.P.D.
ST. THOMAS — A woman has been charged with third-degree assault after she allegedly threw a bucket of paint at her husband and injured his forearm with a piece of broken glass.
Marie Kernizan was arrested on Sunday night after officers responded to a report of a physical altercation between her and her husband. The incident was reported by the couple’s son who later told police that his mother came home that evening and initiated an argument.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, Kernizan’s husband said that the wife threw a five-gallon bucket of paint from the porch above, drenching him. He then went upstairs to ask why she did that, at which point she allegedly struck him to his face with the back of her palm, causing his tooth to get loose. The man then asked his son to call the police and according to the son, he came outside shortly after to find his mother on the ground holding on to his father’s shirt as his father tried to escape. Another relative attempted to separate the two but Kernizan refused to let go of her husband’s shirt. While the relative attempted to drag her away to the kitchen, she broke free of the relative's grip and allegedly struck and scraped her husband’s forearm with a piece of broken glass from the ground.
While the couple have been together for 21 years, it was revealed that they are going through a separation. At Kernizan’s advisement hearing on Monday, Assistant Attorney General Brenda Scales recommended that the defendant be ordered to undergo counseling. Scales noted that based on the circumstances, there appears to be some type of stressor, and Kernizan seems to be a good candidate for an anger management problem. Scales noted that the defendant is gainfully employed and there is no indication of any previous contact with the criminal justice system.
At the conclusion of Monday’s hearing, Kernizan’s release was permitted on the signing of an unsecured appearance bond in the amount of $1,000. However, she is prohibited from returning to the residence while the matter remains pending and must maintain a minimum distance of 25 feet from her husband at all times. She will be allowed one opportunity to retrieve her belongings from the house while being escorted by a police officer or marshal.
If convicted of third-degree assault as a crime of domestic violence, Kernizan faces a maximum imprisonment of five years, a fine between $500 to $3,000, or both a fine and imprisonment. She is also charged with disturbance of the peace which carries a penalty of up to 90 days in jail, a maximum fine of $100 or both.
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