Savage pleads not guilty to assault

Dan “DJ” Savage pleaded “not guilty” to a partner or family-member assault charge at his arraignment in district court on Monday morning.

Savage, who has a history of assault charges, was arrested after a July 11 partner or family-member assault complaint from his girlfriend Sandra Laffoon.

His history of assault was underscored in fall 2013 when he was arrested in Portland, Ore., after an Aug. 29 incident in which he assaulted Laffoon. It was Savage’s third assault charge, making it a felony.

In 2008, Savage pleaded no contest to partner or family-member assault; in 2010, another partner or family-member assault charge was dismissed without prejudice; and in January 2013, he was acquitted on three charges, including a partner or family-member assault charge.

When he was arrested after the July 11 assault, Savage was living under a probation of three years after pleading guilty to the charge of assault from 2013.

On July 11, Laffoon went to authorities claiming that Savage had been violent towards her and threw her phone.

This is Savage’s fourth assault charge, which holds the same felony charge as his third assault charge, County Attorney Bernard Cassidy said.

In addition to the partner or family-member assault charge, Savage also pleaded “not guilty” to an additional charge of tampering with a communication device.

Savage will be in court Aug. 22 to face the charge of probation violation.

A pre-trial hearing will be held Nov. 17 regarding the assault charge.