Jail ordered in battery case

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County teen was ordered to serve 18 days in jail on Monday for breaking a man’s jaw last spring.

Hunter Lee Peterson had no remarks for the court before Judge Barbara Buchanan imposed a 180-day sentence with 140 days suspended and credit for two days of pretrial incarceration, court records show.

Peterson, 18, was charged with aggravated battery due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, which required surgery. However, the offense was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor in exchange for a plea of guilt, according to court documents.

The battery occurred at Cadillac Ranch off Dufort Road near Priest River on May 5. An eyewitness to the attack told a sheriff’s deputy that the battery was unprovoked.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Katie Murdock said the victim’s jaw had to be wired shut and the 20-year-old man lost work because of his injuries, court documents indicate. Murdock said the victim is also dealing with residual pain due to his injuries. Peterson’s counsel, Sandpoint attorney Jeremy Featherston, asked for a withheld judgment due to his client’s lack of a prior criminal record.

Buchanan granted a withheld judgment, which means the offense can be removed from his criminal record upon successful completion of court-ordered obligations, court records show. In addition to the 18 days in jail, Peterson faces up to 20 days of discretionary incarceration. He was also ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and pay $1,600 in fines and costs and placed on probation for two years.

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