Husband Calls Barbara Knowles' Conviction 'Political Persecution'

The husband of one of three people convicted of lying to police when they accused Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo of trying to run them over is launching a campaign to clear his wife's name.

Woodstock resident Chris Knowles has created a Justice For Barbara Knowles fundraising page, which he said will be used to pay for Knowles' appeal. 

Knowles is not holding back on his feelings about the trial and the subsequent conviction.

"If Barbara is guilty of anything, it is of being too honest," Knowles writes. "She never believed that her statements would be twisted and perverted to the extent they were. Certainly, being active politically, she was sensitive to any political fallout that might happen, but she didn't let that stop her from reporting the truth to the best of her recollection. However, those in power who did their ultimate best to ensure that Barbara was guilty of having a political motive, clearly had political motives of their own."

Knowles goes on to say that his wife, along with Robert Trim and former Cherokee school board member Kelly Marlow, did not want to press charges, but were "immediately and repeatedly" contacted by the Canton Police Department after they met with an officer on June 13 to file an incident report.

"The prosecution introduced a conspiracy motive at opening statements but no facts to support the alleged motive and then mentioned it only again at closing," Knowles stated. "They edited recorded phone conversations with investigators, doctored video and took everything completely out of context to make Barbara look like some twisted political wannabe conspiring with the others."

He also accused the prosecution of allowing witnesses to lie under oath, and never proved the three defendants willfully made false statements. 

"This case is so full of prejudicial statements, abuses of power and prosecutorial misconduct - they are too numerous to recount here without recounting the entire investigation and trial," he added. "This is a case of political persecution, plain and simple and we're going to fight it as far as we possibly can."

Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney Shannon Wallace declined to comment on Knowles' accusations and petition other than to say the "jury's verdict speaks for itself."

Barbara Knowles was convicted on one count of filing a false police report — a misdemeanor — and two counts of making false statements, which are felonies. 

Both Marlow and political consultant Robert Trim were found guilty on two counts each of making false statements. 

All three defendants were sentenced to 60 days in jail and 10 years probation. 

Additionally, Knowles resigned her post as the Cherokee County Republican Party Secretary.