By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the incident, Ronald Chans Bateman, 34, of Pima, pleaded guilty to running over Thatcher Middle School Principal Jessica Medlin as she jogged.
Bateman had a settlement conference hearing on Thursday, Jan. 8, and the parties came to an agreement with Bateman pleading guilty to aggravated assault, a class-4 felony. Graham County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Travis W. Ragland accepted the plea, which is probation guaranteed. However, Judge Ragland could still sentence Bateman to up to one year of incarceration in jail as a condition of probation. Additionally, Bateman was already on probation at the time of the incident – and still is – and the guilty plea may have ramifications for his current probation as well.
The incident occurred at about 5:35 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2025, as Medlin was jogging eastbound along the northern shoulder of 200 North (Tripp Canyon), facing oncoming traffic. According to police reports, Bateman – who was on his way to work for the city of Safford – was eastbound in a city of Safford Chevrolet 5500 service truck when he crossed over the westbound lane and onto the northern shoulder, striking Medlin from behind and severely injuring her.
Prosecutors alleged that Bateman was distracted by watching a YouTube video on his cellphone. At the time, Bateman admitted the YouTube application was open on his phone but said he was merely listening to it through earphones.
A witness was on his front porch when he saw Medlin jog by in her reflective clothing and headlamp. The witness said this was a common occurrence and that he knew exactly who it was because of her early-morning runs. After seeing her, the witness said he saw the Safford City truck pass by and heard a thud. The witness said he then saw that Medlin had been struck, and the driver of the truck was walking around in front.
Shortly after the collision, another vehicle pulled up to the scene. At that time, Bateman was on the phone with his wife (a nurse). The second passerby then called 911 and went to assist Medlin. When law enforcement arrived, Bateman initially said Medlin’s headlight “caught his eye,” and he then saw her already lying on the ground, injured. At that time, he claimed he didn’t know who hit her and that he came upon her that way. He said he used her headlamp to search for more of Medlin’s belongings before placing it by her body and holding her hand. Bateman’s wife arrived at the scene and applied pressure to Medlin’s head to help with the bleeding.
Medlin was initially flown to a Tucson hospital for treatment of several broken ribs and multiple skull fractures, which resulted in paralysis on the right side of her face and a loss of hearing in her right ear, among other injuries.
After an investigation by the Pima Police Department, Bateman was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault and a separate count of tampering with physical evidence.
While her criminal case is winding down, she still has a pending civil case to help recoup the numerous costs of her injury.
Medlin continues to heal, and on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, on the one-year anniversary of the incident, she plans to jog the same route (with some friends and the Safford and Thatcher Police departments in tow) for the first time since being struck.
Sentencing for Bateman will be by Graham County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Travis W. Ragland.
