Rogersville teenager arrested for beating up his grandmother

UPDATE 10:11 a.m. : The Hawkins County Court Clerk’s office tells us that Johnny Skeens has a history of violence. Skeens was charged with domestic violence just last year on July 31, 2008. He was also charged with assault twice last year, once on September 15, 2008, when he was charged with resisting arrest and also assaulting an officer. He was also charged with assault December 15, 2008. Sheriff Roger Christian says Skeens is also in trouble right now with a charge of driving on a suspended license. Christian says Skeens got out of jail Monday on a $10,000 bond. Skeens is scheduled to be arraigned on November 18. 
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A Rogersville teenager has been charged with willful elder abuse after police say he assaulted his 60 year old grandmother. Police say 19 year old Johnny Skeens, 309 Western Heights Drive, Rogersville, assaulted his 60 year old grandmother, Kathy Lawson. The victim’s brother, Charles Jarvis, told police the abuse by Skeens had been an ongoing problem for the last year. Jarvis also told the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Department that his sister would not ask for help from anyone. Officers went to speak with Kathy Lawson at her home, at which time an officer noticed several obvious bruises on her arms and face. Mrs. Lawson also stated that she had a large bruise on her left leg. She told the officers that her grandson, Johnny Skeens, was responsible for the bruises.

The Kingsport Times-News reports that the arrest warrant states that that Skeens would ask his grandmother for money and if she did not give it to him that he would assault her. They say the report also states an incident in which Skeens asked Lawson to borrow her car on October 31, and when she would not let him take it, that he assaulted her over it. The report states that Skeens struck her in the face, kicked her in the legs and twisted her wrist.