NOSE BITING A MOUNTAIN STATE TREND?

(12/08/2007)

Is nose biting a violent trend in the Mountain State? A man who bit off part of another man's nose during a bar fight in Moundsville has been sentenced to home confinement and ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution. Biter Michael Tustin, 35, of Cameron was originally indicted on a charge of malicious assault, but he has plead guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful assault. Tustin bit off part of Edgar Hellar's nose, requiring plastic surgery. Tustin is also being evaluated for a drug and alcohol problem, and anger management counseling. In 1997, St. Marys Judge Joseph Troisi, then 47, got angry at defendant Bill Witten, left his bench and bit Witten's nose. Witnesses said the judge then returned to the bench and continued with the case as if nothing happened. Troisi claimed he did not intend to bite Mr. Witten's nose. A Supreme Court report said Troisi had a longstanding inability to control his temper on the bench, and he later left the bench.

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