Arlee man pleads not guilty to assault charges
POLSON — Keith Edmonson appeared in District Court before Judge Christopher on Jan. 3 to answer to charges of assault with a weapon and family member assault for allegedly beating his stepson with a belt.
According to court documents, on Dec. 17 Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Funke responded to a call from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Polson in reference to suspected child abuse.
The minor victim had been admitted to the emergency room. Court records state that Funke asked him why he was in the hospital, and the victim replied that on Dec. 15 in Arlee, he had wet the bed and that while he attempted to clean the sheets and blankets himself his “dad found the sheets and he got in trouble.”
According to court records, Edmonson asked the victim if he wet the bed, the victim, embarrassed answered that he had not.
Court records state that Edmonson then took the victim upstairs and beat him with a belt. Edmonson then made the victim put back on the soiled clothes and told him he would have to wear his wet clothes to school.
Edmonson allegedly told the victim, “whooping will make you snap out of it, embarrassing you will make you snap out of it.”
The hospital staff physician informed Funke that the victim sustained kidney damage and had blood in his urine. The victim had severe bruising on his back, buttocks and legs.
Lake County Detective Erwin Lobdel interviewed Edmonson. He admitted spanking the victim with a belt. Edmonson stated that he does not tolerate lying, stealing or bed wetting. Edmonson said that the victim had wet the bed and then hid his clothes and that was why he was disciplined.
According to court reports, Edmonson admitted that the beating left bruising and explained how he had used the 42 inch long belt to beat the victim, holding it by the handle.
Edmonson stated that he wanted the victim to fear him like he had feared his own father. Court documents state, when Edmonson was shown a picture of the victim’s injuries he said that the injuries were consistent with “the whipping I gave him.”
Court documents state that Edmonson was served with a no contact order for three children on Dec. 18.
Edmonson pled not guilty to the charges. Omnibus is scheduled for February 28 with a jury trial commencing April 8.
Edmonson faces up to 20 years in jail and a fine of $50,000 for assault with a weapon, a felony charge, and up to 1 year with a $1,000 fine for family member abuse, a misdemeanor.