Lang
5/31/24
A rural Swisher man is accused of assaulting a person who had been staying with him, causing serious injuries.
The attack reportedly occurred around 6:00 on the night of November 23rd, 2023 on Blain Cemetery Road, west of Cou Falls. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says the victim had been occasionally staying at the residence of 62-year-old Richard Abernethy when the two had a verbal disagreement, and Abernethy told the other subject to leave. A physical altercation ensued, and Abernethy allegedly head-butted the other person five times, put them in a choke hold multiple times , and punched the side of the person’s chest. The reported victim suffered a brief lack of consciousness, a bloody nose, bruising, pain, and a loss of bladder control.
Abernethy is now charged with Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison.