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The 19-year-old Chehalis man arrested for allegedly being part of a group that beat and severely injured a man on March 1 pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of first-degree assault.
He was initially charged March 4 with two counts of second-degree assault, but amended charging information filed March 6 dismissed one count and elevated the other from a class B felony to a class A felony.
Instead of a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, Jamal George West now faces the possibility of up to life in prison if he is convicted.
West is one of at least five suspects accused of attacking the victim in the 300 block of Southwest Third Street on March 1, according to court documents and previous Chronicle reporting.
Video of the incident reportedly shows the suspects “taking multiple roles in the attack to include kicking/stomping on his head, strangling him, punching him in the face and body, and dropping (a) retaining wall brick over his head,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.
In surveillance footage of the attack, the suspects can also reportedly be heard threatening to kill the suspect and making statements regarding a gang.
The victim was transported to Capital Medical Center for treatment of multiple lacerations, an orbital hemorrhage, broken teeth and strangulation, according to court documents.
As of Thursday, West was the only one of the five suspects facing charges related to the assault in Lewis County Superior Court.
Cases for three juvenile suspects are being handled in Lewis County Superior Court, according to previous Chronicle reporting. Juvenile court records are not public record in Washington state.
A warrant for the arrest of a fifth suspect has been issued, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
As of Thursday afternoon, West was still in custody at the Lewis County Jail on $1 million bail.
His trial is scheduled to begin May 5
