Man pleads not guilty to five counts of aggravated battery

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man, 33, pleaded not guilty Thursday to five felony counts of aggravated battery, one felony count of possession of methamphetamine and one felony count of injury to child.

The Daily Bee does not publish the names of alleged victims. In this case, the defendant’s name will also not be published because it could reveal the identity of the alleged victim.

The defendant was arrested after his 13-year-old stepson fled to a neighbor’s house and allegedly told the neighbor that the defendant was “going to end him.” The neighbor contacted law enforcement and allegedly told them that the defendant was knocking on her door and yelling, according to court records.

According to court documents, when law enforcement spoke to the defendant and another individual on scene, they told law enforcement that the youth had run off because they wanted him to take a “time-out” in the corner.

The 13-year-old boy allegedly told law enforcement he was concerned that the defendant was going to kill him and that the defendant had been physically beating him, leaving scars, bruising and other injuries, for the past year, according to court records. Law enforcement said they saw evidence of bruising on the youth’s arm and scarring on the front and back of the youth’s head.

At the scene, the youth allegedly described several instances in which he was beaten with a construction stake, a stick, and a moose antler. In a later forensic interview, the youth allegedly detailed the beatings with various objects from the past year, as well as incidents going back as many as three years in which the defendant would beat him with a spoon or with his hands. The youth also allegedly said the defendant told him to lie about how he received the injuries these beatings caused, according to court records.

A forensic examination allegedly documented injuries to the youth’s head, arms, legs and buttocks, according to court records.

The defendant also submitted a motion for bond reduction from $150,000 to $35,000 at the Dec. 5 arraignment.

Based on several factors — including the defendant’s criminal record which shows 16 previous criminal cases since 2007, over 13 warrants issued for his arrest, and five protection orders filed against him — the judge denied the bond reduction motion.

The case’s trial is set for April.