Man denies assault on partner, child
A Kalispell man has denied allegations that he beat his partner unconscious and assaulted a 7-year-old child.
Michael Terrell Beale, 31, pleaded not guilty in Flathead District Court on Feb. 16 to charges of felony assault on a minor, felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor destruction or tampering with evidence. The charges result from a report made on Jan. 9 by his former partner after she allegedly fled their home in order to call the police.
According to court documents, an argument between Beale and his partner over money reportedly resulted in Beale striking the woman “with a closed fist over and over.”
The alleged victim stated that she lost consciousness and woke up to Beale kicking her. Her young daughter reportedly sustained an injury to her arm when Beale allegedly threw the child across the room.
The initial phone call came from a business near the parties’ residence. The woman alleged that she and the child were forced to flee the home to make the call when Beale ripped their phone from the wall.
Court documents state that responding police officers noticed “obvious injuries” on the alleged victim. According to the report, she had visible red marks and swelling to her face, neck, stomach and back, and her face was covered with blood.
When authorities arrived at Beale’s home, he reportedly had blood on his shirt and pants and scrapes on his hands and face which he allegedly would not explain. Officers reported that Beale seemed “confused why officers were there at all,” and said they could smell alcohol on him.
Upon medical examination at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the woman was found to have a broken tail bone, a broken nose and had lost a tooth.
Beale was remanded to Flathead County Detention Center pending bail postage. State attorneys stated that Beale would not necessarily be released if bail was posted due to a second indictment for felony possession of firearms.
Beale faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The case was set for jury trial on May 30.