A 21-year-old Mountain Home man entered a not guilty plea to a charge stemming from a fight that broke out at a recent birthday party, leaving one guest with a broken jaw and growing medical bills.
Jaden Lewis, charged with second-degree battery, entered his plea in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
The incident took place at a residence along County Road 643 late last month, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in Lewis’ case.
Investigators reported an altercation broke out between several males attending the party only a short time after the victim’s arrival. One of the guests initially tried to start a fight with the victim, and others became involved in the fracas. The victim ran back to his vehicle in an attempt to escape the other men.
Close to the end of the driveway to the residence, Lewis is reported to have joined the fray, striking the victim in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. It is alleged Lewis then got on top of the victim and continued to strike him in the face. The victim, who was listed as a 17-year-old in court records, was taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center where a broken jaw was detected on x-rays, and the victim was then taken to Springfield for treatment of his injuries.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the costs of the victim’s medical care had neared $5,000 by early this month and continues to climb.
Bond for Lewis is set at $20,000. He was ordered to reappear in circuit court September 20th.
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