A Benton City man pleaded innocent Thursday to allegations he beat up a partially blind man walking with his service dog when the victim spurned his request to buy some "dope."
Christopher James Gilchrist, 39, faces a Sept. 14 trial in Benton County Superior Court for second-degree assault.
On July 23, Ryan Harman was walking on Stevens Drive to a friend's Richland house. Harman is blind in one eye and partially blind in the other, and thus requires use of a service dog, said Deputy Prosecutor Anita Petra.
That's when Gilchrist stepped out from the driveway of the Tumbleweeds restaurant and asked if he could buy drugs from Harman or knew where he could get some, court documents said.
The victim said, "No," but Gilchrist continued to follow him demanding drugs, documents said.
Gilchrist then allegedly punched Harman on the left side of his face and told the man he "would come and kill him" if he alerted the police.
Harman was able to get away and had a friend drive him to a hospital. He required several stitches to his face, Petra told the court.
Gilchrist has been in the Benton County jail on $10,000 bail, but Petra asked the court to increase it to $20,000 "based on the nature of the charge" and the defendant's lengthy criminal history.
Gilchrist has had multiple violations of no-contact orders and has a problem showing up to court hearings when ordered, Petra said. He also has a pending second-degree assault case in Spokane County in which the victim required surgery to his face, she said.
"This individual is a dangerous man," Petra told Judge Bruce Spanner.
Spanner agreed to bump the bail up to $20,000, noting Gilchrist's problems with the law and inability to abide by court orders.
Gilchrist then asked for a copy of police reports, saying he is entitled to any paperwork in his case. Petra argued that the victim is in fear of retribution from Gilchrist and said the defendant must let his attorney, Sal Mendoza Jr., handle the case.
Spanner denied the request.
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