A woman remained in the hospital Friday while a Toledo man faced allegations of domestic violence and assault in Lewis County Superior Court.
Cody D. Browne, 30, was charged with one count of second-degree assault (domestic violence) following his arrest on Thursday. The Class B felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. Browne made a preliminary court appearance on Friday.
Deputy Prosecutor Brandi Archer requested a bail of $100,000 cash or bond and said she’d been in communication with the victim during the day.
“The state is highly concerned for her safety,” Archer said. “The injuries are extreme.”
Archer said the woman was still in the hospital and indicated she would need surgery. The prosecutor said a high bail amount was appropriate and requested a no-contact order protecting the woman, along with an order for Browne to surrender any firearms within his possession.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for no more than $25,000 in bail, saying bail would be difficult for Browne. She said Browne works when jobs are available.
Tiller said Browne has no criminal history in Washington, and noted a lone gross misdemeanor from 11 years ago. According to court documents, Browne was convicted of DUI in Kansas in 2015.
The defense attorney said the alleged victim has a pending assault charge involving Browne.
Judge Paul Strophy noted Browne’s lack of criminal history and warrants, but said the allegations — regardless of whether Browne has also been a victim — concerned the court.
Strophy set bail at $50,000 cash or bond and granted the state’s request for the pretrial domestic violence no-contact order and the firearms surrender.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported physical dispute in Toledo on Thursday. The caller said she’d been trying to gather her belongings to leave when Browne assaulted her. She said she’d defended herself.
Deputies arrived at the home and saw “numerous physical injuries” to the woman’s body, including “swelling on her left jaw, bruising under her left eye, blood in her right nostril, and blood in her mouth,” according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, the woman told deputies she’d gone swimming with friends. She returned to find Browne upset. The defendant allegedly “punched her left cheek.”
The woman said she “punched him back and he then pushed her down and they began fighting,” according to the affidavit.
The woman said she believed her cheek might be broken.
Browne allegedly told deputies the woman “hit him in the face and chipped his tooth so he pushed her down,” according to the affidavit.
One of the deputies reportedly did not see an “obvious chip” when looking at Browne’s tooth. He noted that Browne “appeared to be minimizing the events.”
According to the affidavit, the woman spoke to authorities on Friday and said she’d received medical care and had suffered a broken cheekbone and orbital fracture.
Browne is scheduled for an arraignment on Aug. 27.
