By: Devin Fry
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Walcott, N.D., man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he assaulted a woman twice over the span of four days, striking her in the face with a metal bar during one of the attacks.
Chance Lee DeCoteau, 28, of Walcott, was charged March 12 in Clay County District Court with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of felony domestic assault.
According to a criminal complaint, the first incident occurred March 7 at an apartment in Moorhead. The woman told law enforcement that DeCoteau hit her in the face with a metal bar attached to a bicycle seat, causing significant bruising to her face. She also suffered bruising on her arm where she tried to block the blow.
Four days later, on March 11, DeCoteau allegedly slapped the woman again. She walked from the apartment to Sanford Urgent Care, where she reported both incidents to law enforcement. She was later transferred to Sanford ER for treatment.
Court documents show DeCoteau has a prior misdemeanor domestic assault conviction from September 2019 and a misdemeanor assault conviction from February 2018. Prosecutors cited those prior convictions in elevating the domestic assault charges to felonies.
DeCoteau is currently in custody and is being held pending further court proceedings, according to a detention order signed by a Clay County judge on March 12.
Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine, or both. Each felony domestic assault charge carries a maximum of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
