New Charge Filed Against Man Accused Of Attacking Family Over Black Lives Matter Signs

The Forsyth County man alleged to have assaulted a boy and his sister over a Black Lives Matter sign now faces an additional charge.

Rod Sturdy, a 55-year-old white male from Lewisville, was originally charged with two misdemeanor charges — simple assault and assault on a female — from an incident that occurred nearly seven months ago. According to the alleged victims' account, at a local dental clinic parking lot, Sturdy exited his vehicle and approached the car of three white siblings. He then punched the 17-year-old brother in the face, fracturing his eye socket. Sturdy later attacked the boy's older sister when she tried to intervene. Afterward he pointed to two racial justice signs in the back of their car, used the N-word, and drove away.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Christina Howell says with the initial information gathered shortly after the incident they were only able to draw simple assault charges, but that's changed.

"We of course have continued to investigate this, and with the extent of the injuries as time has progressed — and we have the documentation about the extent of the injuries — we were able to upgrade the simple assault charge to assault inflicting serious injury," says Howell.

The misdemeanor charge comes with a maximum punishment of 150 days incarceration and a discretionary fine. Sturdy is scheduled to appear in court on the serious injury charge in two weeks. The hearing on the original two charges will take place on September 13.