Police: Man punches pregnant girlfriend
Ryan Liesche who was arrested last Saturday for domestic battery will receive his preliminary hearing next week. Photo curtesy Kootenai County records.
A Hayden man who witnesses said punched his pregnant girlfriend several times will have his preliminary hearing next week on charges of felony domestic battery and attempted strangulation.
Ryan Liesche, 36, who was arrested Saturday, faces up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Deputies responded to a fight in progress at 2:30 p.m. at Honeysuckle Beach Park, where witnesses saw Liesche punching a female in the face inside a parked SUV, according to a sheriff’s office report.
Deputies said the victim, who is two months pregnant, was visibly upset and smelled of alcohol.
Her right cheek was swollen and cut, and she had smaller lacerations on her chin, lip and throat, according to a report.
Two witnesses told police that they heard the victim repeatedly pleading with Liesche as he pushed her against the SUV passenger door. Officers said the witnesses called authorities after watching Liesche punch the victim four or five times before driving away.
At his first appearance, Liesche's defense attorney, Henry Madsen, argued that the incident in question was misconstrued.
"The person who will testify... would say that he never laid hands on her," Madsen said. "The police went crazy and did what they did, which is problematic."
Madsen said officers misidentified the marks on the victim’s neck.
"These are clearly burns, not strangulation marks," Madsen said. "The court should look at the credibility of the officer."
According to police records, Liesche has a criminal history. Judge Anna Eckhart set bond at $10,000 and issued a no-contact order against Liesche and the victim.
Liesche posted bail and will have his preliminary hearing Sept. 4 in Coeur d’Alene’s First District Magistrate Court.