Casper Man Denies Child Abuse, DUI, Domestic Battery Charges
A man accused of assaulting a child, kicking his girlfriend in the face and driving while intoxicated appeared in Natrona County District Court on Tuesday and denied three charges brought against him.
James Thomas Thompson pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of child abuse as well as misdemeanor charges of driving while under the influence and domestic battery. He could face up to 11 years behind bars if convicted on all counts.
According to court documents, Casper police officers responded to a report of a physical fight shortly after 7 p.m. on Aug. 26. One of the people who reported the incident said that Thompson was drunk and had driven off in a red 1995 Ford Mustang.
Police officers found the car near the intersection of Farnum and Lowell. Thompson was seen getting into the Mustang and driving away on the wrong side of the road. An officer conducted a traffic stop and found Thompson covered in blood.
Witnesses told police that a barbeque had been held that day at Thompson's residence. Thompson reportedly fought with a minor victim. Thompson was seen slamming the boy into a wall and choking him.
Another man pulled Thompson off the boy, and Thompson started fighting with that man, threatening to kill him. The man grabbed a beer bottle and used it to hit Thompson in the head so that he could get away from Thompson.
Thompson pursued the man and tackled him out in the yard. When Thompson put his hands around the man's neck, the man again hit Thompson with the beer bottle and was able to get away to a friend's house. Thompson continued to chase him, but eventually stopped when he saw a police car approaching.
Thompson's then-girlfriend was distraught when police contacted her. She had a large bruise on her upper lip, and told an officer that Thompson had kicked her in the face about two days prior. She refused to say anything else, despite multiple people asking her to continue speaking with police and saying that "Thompson had beaten her too many times to let it slide," according to the affidavit.
Another woman told police that she had also tried to intervene as Thompson fought with the minor victim, and Thompson hit her in the face. She told police that she did not need medical attention and declined to press charges.
Thompson was evidently drunk while speaking with police. He denied having fought with the child. Thompson refused to perform field sobriety tests and was arrested.
District Judge Thomas Sullins said Tuesday that Thompson's case has been placed on the trial stack for Jan. 14. Thompson remains free on $10,000 surety bond.