Accused batterer to change plea

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint man Daniel Joseph Romero, 32, plans to change his plea Sept. 19. in a felony domestic battery case stemming from an incident the night of May 30.

He had been set to go to trial with a not guilty plea.

Romero’s neighbor called the police the night of his initial arrest to report that Romero and his partner were intoxicated and fighting. The caller decided to contact law enforcement after they allegedly saw Romero drag his partner across the street by her hair and slam her head into the sidewalk, according to court documents.

The witness later said Romero stumbled as he finished crossing the street which is what caused his partner to slam their head into the sidewalk.

The couple had gone outside to smoke a cigarette across the street after Romero grabbed his partner by the chin or mouth. His partner said they did not want to fight that night. But, as soon as they crossed the street to start their cigarettes, the victim said in the probable cause affidavit. At that point, the report says Romero “instantly turned.”It was at this moment that Romero is alleged to have grabbed the victim by the hair and to have dragged her across the street.

According to court documents, both were intoxicated.

Romero told officers he had not consumed much alcohol before blowing a 0.321 BAC on a responding officer’s LifeLock breathalyzer.

According to Romero’s version of events, the altercation began outside and never got physical. He also told officers he did not remember anything, according to the affidavit.

Sandpoint police officer Steven Kingery found cause to arrest Romero. After he was medically cleared at Bonner General, he was booked for one count of felony domestic battery and could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, if convicted.