McDonald bound over for further court proceedings
July 22 Preliminary Hearing for charges related to 2010 attack against Pinedale woman
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
July 22, 2014
Pinedale resident, Brian James McDonald appeared for a preliminary hearing in Sublette County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon, July 22, 2014. The courtroom was filled with citizens interested in hearing the case which involved a brutal attack against Jacie Rose in 2010 as she slept in her bed. McDonald is charged with five felony counts: Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Aggravated Assault and Battery, Possession of a Deadly Weapon with Unlawful Intent, and Aggravated Burglary. McDonald was arrested on July 10th, four years after the assault.
Judge Curt Haws presided over the hearing. Sublette County District Attorney Neal Stelting presented the facts for the State. Attorney for the Defendant was Public Defender Elisabeth Trefonas. The only witness called and questioned was Sublette County Sheriff’s Office Detective Lance Gehlhausen.
Stelting presented evidence to establish probable cause regarding the charges against McDonald. The State’s most compelling evidence is a DNA match on a bloody glove found in the victim’s room. This case has similarities to three other attacks on females in Pinedale, in 2010, 2012 and 2014. McDonald had a suspicious injury he received the night of the most recent attack on a Pinedale woman in May of 2014 which led to his coming to the attention of authorities, a connection made tying him to the Jacie Rose assault, and his ultimate arrest.
In her closing statements, Trefonas said the State had very little to go on. She questioned if the DNA was processed properly, said there were no fingerprints, and noted the suspect ID was for a shorter man wearing a hoodie.
Judge Haws ruled that the State had satisfied the burden of proof requirements for probable cause for each of the five counts filed. All charges against the Defendant will be bound over to the Ninth District Court for further proceedings.
McDonald remains in custody in the Sublette County Jail on a million dollar cash bond due to the severity of the case. His next court appearance will be an arraignment in District Court in Pinedale at a date and time still to be determined.
Persons suspected of a crime are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Related Links
Pinedale woman assaulted in her home - Pinedale Online, July 26, 2010
Assailant still at large in attack on Pinedale woman - Pinedale Online, May 28, 2014
Be vigilant - Pinedale Online, June 14, 2014
$10,000 Reward offered for info about May 28th violent attack - Pinedale Online, June 3, 2014
Do you recognize this T-Ball bat? - Pinedale Online, May 29, 2014
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