NEW BOSTON, Texas - A Bowie County district judge ordered probation Wednesday for a father accused in the death of his adult son last April.
Elgin Hollingsworth, 50, was initially charged with murder in the stabbing death of Demoryea Hollingsworth, 25. Last week, Elgin Hollingsworth pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury and asked that the court decide his punishment in the range of two to 20 years.
Elgin Hollingsworth's lawyer, Rick Candler of Louisiana, called members of the defendant's and victim's family to testify at the sentencing hearing Thursday before 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison. They included two grandmothers, the victim's mother and Elgin Hollingsworth's former wife, two sons of Elgin Hollingsworth and brothers to the victim, and Elgin Hollingsworth's former sister-in-law and aunt of Demoryea Hollingsworth.
All of the family members asked Addison for leniency and described Elgin Hollingsworth as a valuable, supportive and loving member of the family.
The victim's maternal grandmother told Addison that Demoryea Hollingsworth told medical personnel at the hospital where he was treated before succumbing to his injuries that he "accidentally ran into the knife."
Demoryea Hollingsworth was reportedly angry because he believed his father had stolen money from him. Some family members who testified said they did not believe that claim to be true though it led to the physical confrontation between father and son on Golden Rule Road on April 14, 2020.
"We know that this was an unfortunate accident. There was no premeditation involved," the victim's maternal grandmother testified. "We would like to heal together."
The family expressed grief at the loss of Demoryea Hollingsworth and a plea for mercy for Elgin Hollingsworth. The last witness to testify was Elgin Hollingsworth.
"A split second can change anybody's life," Elgin Hollingsworth said. "Every-thing happened so fast."
Both Candler and First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp remarked on the unusual circumstances of the defendant and victim sharing the same family and the support that family is showing for Elgin Hollingsworth. Crisp also acknowledged that it is highly unusual for the DA's office to agree that a defendant charged with murder should be permitted to plead guilty to a lesser offense.
"As far as a just and right outcome, if the victim's family wants that outcome, then it is a just and right outcome," Crisp said.
Addison's ruling that Elgin Hollingsworth receive a sentence of 10 years deferred adjudication probation was in keeping with the family's wishes.
"I'm putting your life back in your hands. Back in the hands of your family," Addison said to Elgin Hollingsworth.
If Elgin Hollingsworth successfully completes probation he will not have a final conviction on his record.
Some of the family members seated in the audience uttered, "Hallelujah, hallelujah."
An elderly man began singing a hymn as he walked out the courtroom door and into the second-floor hallway of the Bowie County courthouse, his voice echoing through the building.
Addison's bailiff shrugged his shoulders and noted that none of the other courtrooms on the floor were in use and thus the singing did not create a disruption.
After meeting with Bowie County probation, Elgin Hollingsworth was released. He had been in custody since being arrested on the day of the stabbing.