PORT ANGELES — A Carlsborg man faces a Nov. 17 trial on charges of felony assault in a September stabbing attack on the mother of his baby daughter.
Deeon Emilio Gonzales, 20, entered a not-guilty plea to assault in the first degree with a firearm or deadly weapon-domestic violence aggravated offense Friday morning in Clallam County Superior Court.
Judge Christopher Melly set a status hearing for
9 a.m. Oct. 31. The November trial is expected to run three or four days.
Gonzales remained in the county jail in lieu of $100,000 bail Saturday.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and/or a $50,000 fine plus restitution and assessments.
State law on the enhancements states: “If the defendant is found to have committed an act of domestic violence within the sight or sound of the victim’s or the offender’s minor child under the age of 18 years the court may impose an exceptional sentence.”
Defense attorney Loren Oakley told the court that Gonzales will undergo a mental health evaluation.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said Gonzales stabbed his ex-girlfriend Britni Gallauher, 18, five times with a homemade knife near 151 Streit Road in Carlsborg at about 4:20 p.m. Sept. 20.
Police say in charging documents that Gallauher was holding their 1½-year-old daughter when he stabbed her.
Gallauher was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries at Olympic Medical Center, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Gonzales had prevented Gallauher from seeing their daughter-in-common since their five-year relationship ended about a month ago, the documents say.
Gallauher told investigators she had been arguing with Gonzales via text messages and had asked to retrieve their daughter for visitation.
“As soon as Gonzales handed their daughter to Gallauher, he pulled out a knife and began stabbing her several times,” the arrest narrative said.
After the alleged stabbing, Gonzales took the crying child to his nearby residence, left her there, then ran toward the Olympic Discovery Trail, police said.
The child was found safe and was turned over to relatives for her care.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
