Two charged with malicious wounding
by Tom Chillemi
Two Middlesex men have been charged with malicious wounding of Kevin Townsend, 49, of Saluda, indicate Middlesex Circuit Court records.
Townsend was hospitalized on December 17 after he was stabbed, and he died in an area hospital about a week later, indicate court records.
Middlesex Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael T. Hurd said this week he is awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Facing malicious wounding charges are Phillip Anthony Braxton, 54, of Saluda, and Milton Tyrone Braxton of Wake. Both men were denied bond and remain in jail.
Search warrants were obtained on January 12 seeking DNA samples from each man.
In obtaining the search warrants, a Middlesex investigator stated on the search warrant as “material facts constituting probable cause” that on December 17, 2010 Milton and Phillip Braxton brought Townsend to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office after he was stabbed.
The investigator’s written statement continues that Milton Braxton made a statement on the lobby phone that indicated there had been a physical altercation between him and Townsend.
Townsend told a staff member of the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center that “the Braxton brothers both beat and kicked him and one of them stabbed him with a chain saw wrench,” according to the investigator’s written statement of facts.
Further, the warrant notes Phillip Braxton turned over a chain saw wrench when he was arrested.
According to the court records, M. Braxton told the police investigator that Townsend attacked him and P. Braxton broke up the fight. P. Braxton also said he broke up the fight.
In addition to the stab wound, Townsend suffered a fractured skull, according to the investigator’s statement.
