A Mount Sterling man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Circuit Court to beating a man with a board more than a week ago.
James Cook, 24, was arrested Monday on a warrant for second-degree assault. The warrant, which was obtained by the victim, Edward Carmichael, said Cook and two other men had been drinking Aug. 12 when they allegedly instigated an argument with Carmichael, his wife and a neighbor. During the argument, Carmichael said Cook threatened to “take care of him.”
Carmichael said the police were called, and officers separated the groups.
An hour later, Carmichael said he went outside to lock his car and heard the three men say, “There he is. We’re going to get him.” One of the men knocked Carmichael to the ground, Carmichael said, and Cook started hitting him around the face and head with a board. The police were called again and resolved the situation, he said.
Following the incident, Carmichael said he was treated at Clark Regional Medical Center for multiple lacerations, a broken nose and a cracked orbital bone.
During his arraignment Wednesday, Clark District Judge Charles Hardin appointed a public defender to represent Cook and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Aug. 29. Cook is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on a $7,500 bond.
Contact Fred Petke at fpetke@winchestersun.com.
