Sat Nov 23 00:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Ponte Vedra Stabbing Suspect’s Sentencing Delayed by CTE Defense

**PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL** – The sentencing of Spencer Pearson, 20, for the stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, Madison Schemitz, a Ponte Vedra High School athlete, has been postponed until Friday. Pearson pleaded guilty in July to two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery. The delay stems from his defense team’s unprecedented attempt to use Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) as a mitigating factor for a reduced sentence.

Schemitz suffered severe injuries leaving her paralyzed for months following the June 3rd attack outside Mr. Chubby’s Wings. Her mother, Jacki Rogé, was also injured while attempting to protect her daughter. A bystander, Kennedy Armstrong, also suffered injuries while intervening.

Pearson’s defense claims that CTE, resulting from his history of playing tackle football, contributed to the attack. While CTE is typically diagnosed posthumously through brain examination, the defense cites recent studies suggesting potential for live diagnosis, prompting the court to allow MRI scans of Pearson. This defense strategy has been attempted before in high-profile cases involving former NFL players, but with limited success. Previous attempts by defendants to use CTE as a mitigating factor in violent crime cases have been unsuccessful, resulting in lengthy prison sentences.

The CTE Center at Boston University, a leading authority on the disease, acknowledges potential advancements in live diagnosis but stresses that a reliable method hasn’t yet been established. The defense’s argument rests on a study linking football and CTE, showing a high prevalence of the disease in former players, including a significant percentage who played only through high school.

The judge will now consider the defense’s evidence before sentencing Pearson on Friday at 9 a.m. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for future legal arguments involving CTE and violent crime.

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