Local man admits to hitting girlfriend with a hammer

A local man admitted Monday morning in state District Court to hitting his girlfriend with a hammer during a drug-fueled argument that took place over a two-day period in November 2015 and ended up with her in the hospital.

Tyler the Boy, born in 1990, pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon under a plea deal that has taken five other charges off the table, among them three counts of partner or family member assault and another count of assault with a weapon.

The Boy's public defender, Samuel L. Harris from the Office of Public Defender in Great Falls, asked him questions to establish what happened that day.

The Boy said he was dating someone who was using drugs at the time. During the course of those two days in November, the two had quarrels and disagreements, he said. The arguments escalated and The Boy said he hit the woman with a hammer, which caused "bruising."

In the original court charging document, before the officer spoke to the victim, hospital employees told the officer she had several injuries covering her body. The victim told the officer that The Boy bit her, hit her with a hammer and also stabbed her with a knife.

Harris also asked District Judge Daniel Boucher to reduce The Boy's bail so his defendant can stay with his mother until his Oct. 31 sentencing, which he said will most likely result in incarceration.

Hill County Attorney Gina Dahl objected to Harris' request because of the severity of The Boy's assault.

"The victim suffered numerous injuries and stab wounds," she said.

Dahl added that The Boy has an "extremely extensive criminal history" and has not done well under supervision in the past, making him an unfit candidate for bail reduction.

Boucher denied the motion to reduce bail, citing the seriousness of the underlying offense."

Harris said after the hearing that he is asking for a sentence of five years with three suspended, which if imposed likely would mean The Boy would serve two or three years with the Department of Corrections.