Violent attack lands one in hospital, another in jail

SANDPOINT ­ Two Bonner County men have been implicated in an extended attack that hospitalized another man.

Lance Joseph Sinka was arrested last weekend on charges of first-degree kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

Sinka made an initial appearance via video feed from the Bonner County Jail on Monday, court records show. Judge Lori Meulenberg set Sinka’s bail at $45,000 and appointed a public defender to represent him, court records show.

Sinka and a second man who is wanted for arrested are accused of luring a man to a Priest River home on March 18 and beating him for at least 20 minutes.

The alleged attack came to the attention of authorities when the alleged victim’s mother was stopped after speeding through Priest River with her hazard flashers illuminated.

The alleged victim, 34, was described as covered in blood with his left eye swollen shut.

The man told Priest River Police he went to a home on Lincoln in response to allegations that he had stolen a bike and a guitar, an allegation which the alleged victim denied. Once at the home, the told police he unexpectedly forced into a kitchen where he was set upon by Sinka and another man.

The alleged victim was repeatedly kicked in the face, nearly choked into unconsciousness and threatened with a knife despite pleas to stop the assault. A woman in the home was reportedly unmoved by the attack and said the victim deserving of the abuse he was receiving, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.