PORT ANGELES — A 48-year-old Marysville man found beaten outside an east Port Angeles bar earlier this month has died.
Prosecutors are now awaiting autopsy results to see whether they’ll raise charges from assault on his alleged assailant from Sequim.
Donald G. Knechtel died at Harborview Medical Center on Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman confirmed Monday.
Knechtel, who was found unconscious by authorities June 1, was taken to Olympic Medical Center and airlifted to Harborview after the apparent beating outside the Front Street Alibi bar, 1605 E. Front St.
He was found in the parking lot with a severe head injury, police said.
Police arrested Casey J. Balch, 21, of Sequim shortly after 11 p.m. on June 1 and booked him into the Clallam County jail for investigation of second-degree assault.
Balch pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree assault charges at his Clallam County Superior Court arraignment Friday.
Balch posted $50,000 bond and was released from the jail Friday.
A status hearing was set for 1 p.m. July 19.
No new charges had been added as of Monday afternoon, said Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg.
“The King County medical examiner did an autopsy this morning,” Troberg said Monday.
The prosecutor was awaiting the autopsy results, including the official cause of death.
“I will frankly defer until I carefully review everything,” Troberg said.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood on Friday scheduled a three-day trial on the assault charge to begin Oct. 1.
That trial could be postponed if there are additional charges sought against Balch.
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Reporter Chris Tucker can be reached at 360-452-2345 ext. 5074 or at chris.tucker@peninsuladailynews.com.
