Eureka man pleads not guilty to aggravated assault in bar fight that injured man, woman

A 40-year-old Eureka man pleaded not guilty to felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault charges in Lincoln County District Court on Monday, Oct. 31.

Aaron Ray Carvey is charged in relation to an incident that occurred Aug. 15 at the North Point Bar and Grill in Eureka.

According to court documents, Carvey slammed a man’s head multiple times into walls and the floor and caused the man to lose consciousness and suffer a hemorrhage. Carvey is also charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly pushing a woman bartender into a wall and injuring her wrist and ribs.

According to a police report from Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy Robert Salyer, he watched a video camera footage from the bar and concluded that Carvey was sitting down but got up and walked to the male victim’s side of the bar. Carvey and the man were in each others’ faces bumping stomachs and shoving each other, Salyer said. Carvey then grabbed the man by the arms and pushed him into a 3-4-foot wall and spun him around and rammed him into a wall.

At that point, the bartender tried to intervene, but Carvey pushed the man and the bartender into the edge of the bar, Salyer said. Carvey then slammed the man into a small bookshelf and dropped him on the floor before patrons broke up the fight.

According to the police report, Carvey said his father and the male victim have a long history due to the man turning in his father numerous times for multiple issues.

According to the report, the woman bartender said that Carvey tossed the man around “like a rag doll” and kept at him even when he was unconscious. She said the man was unconscious for at least five minutes.

When he was interviewed by Salyer, the male victim said that he hadn’t seen Carvey in over two years so he didn’t know what his problem was.

If convicted, Carvey faces up to 20 years in prison for the felony and a fine of up to $50,000. Maximum penalties for the misdemeanor include six months in jail or a fine up to $500.

An omnibus hearing is set for Nov. 28.

Caleb M. Soptelean can be reached at 293-4124 or by email at csoptelean@thewesternnews.com.