19-Year-Old Accused of Breaking Man's Nose at Adna High School Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charge

Emily Fitzgerald, The Chronicle, Centralia, Wash.
·2 min read

Jun. 12—A 19-year-old was charged with second-degree assault in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday after he allegedly punched someone in the face at Adna High School on Saturday, breaking the other person's glasses and nose.

The defendant, Christopher McGuire, 19, of Canton, Mississippi, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to reports from multiple witnesses quoted in an affidavit of probable cause, McGuire was involved in "a confrontation" with a man in the school's parking lot, which escalated when McGuire allegedly kicked the victim's car "then punched him in the face, breaking his glasses and nose."

"His (McGuire's) little brother was bullied by this other student to the point where he had to leave school," O'Rourke said Monday, explaining the "confrontation" described in the affidavit of probable cause.

A CT scan later confirmed the victim's nose was fractured during the altercation.

Deputies with the Lewis County Sheriff's Office who took a report from the victim reportedly "observed an obvious injury to (the victim's) nose, along with several abrasions from the glasses cutting into (the victim's) face," according to court documents.

The damaged glasses were valued at approximately $350, according to court documents.

McGuire was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Saturday, but posted $5,000 bail and was released ahead of his preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday, June 12.

He was present at that Monday hearing alongside a defense attorney Shane O'Rourke and entered a not-guilty plea.

Trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 21.

Judge James Lawler approved orders allowing McGuire to travel to and from his home in Mississippi and to appear virtually to hearing up until the trial confirmation hearing, which is scheduled for Aug. 17.