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Jeremiah R. Kendall, 39, of Libby, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of aggravated assault and tampering with or fabricating evidence in connection with the alleged brutal assault of his girlfriend in 2014.

Kendall entered his plea in Lincoln County District Court just weeks after being released from federal prison. He was serving a 30-month sentence for possessing a firearm while subject to a restraining order.

Authorities accuse Kendall of assaulting his then girlfriend sometime between Dec. 18 and Dec. 20, 2014. On the latter date, Detective David Hall of Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was called to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center. The staff there told him Kendall and his mother had brought in a woman suffering from serious head injuries, court documents said.

Given the “unusual presentation” of the wounds, the staff alerted authorities, according to the affidavit. Medical officials said they found eight areas of injury to the woman’s head and 38 areas of injury to the rest of her body, including “bruising, abrasions and petechiae,” court documents said.

Kendall and his mother had told the staff that the woman had fallen while intoxicated, hitting her head on the toilet, according to the affidavit. Upon arrival, Kendall’s mother alerted medical staff that the injuries occurred 36 hours prior.

The victim’s neurologist told detectives that her “injuries did not seem consistent with a fall,” according to court documents.

Witnesses told authorities that Kendall had grown violent following a night out on Dec. 18, but neither saw the victim injured, according to the affidavit.

Authorities interviewed Kendall on Dec. 20, 2014. He told them that the victim had fallen several times, including in the bathroom, court documents said.

Kendall later changed his account, officials wrote in court documents.

Authorities also accuse Kendall of using the victim’s mobile phone, posting photos and deleting conversations, while she was in a medically-induced coma.

Kendall was convicted of partner or family member assault charges in 2006, 2008 and 2014.

Kendall is expected back in court Dec. 16.