Online dating meet-up ends with woman facing assault charge

SANDPOINT - A man's online date was arrested early Monday morning after she allegedly attacked him with a butcher knife at a Priest Lake cabin.

Bethany Ann Gomez is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The alleged victim told Bonner County Sheriff's deputies that he met Gomez online and she was staying with him at a cabin in Coolin. He said Gomez consumed three-quarters of a fifth of rum and became upset when she could not find her phone.

Gomez, a 48-year-old Spokane resident, allegedly began throwing things and the 55-year-old man began searching a bedroom for the device. He said she came into the room with a 13-inch butcher knife and attempted to stab him, but he was able to block the blows and wrestle her to gain control of the knife.

The alleged victim, according to a probable cause affidavit, gathered Gomez's belongings and offered to drive her somewhere, but she became irate and began damaging his vehicle's interior.

Deputies found Gomez passed out by an outbuilding. She told them that the alleged victim attempted to touch her and accused him of arming himself with a knife.

A public defender has been appointed to represent Gomez and a preliminary hearing in the case is set for April 1.