Winebark pleads not guilty to assault charge

A Troy man faces aggravated assault charges after a June 12 fight left a minor hospitalized with a broken jaw.

Terren Craig Winebark, 18, pleaded not guilty to the felony charge in Lincoln County District Court on Sept. 21. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Nov. 30 with a pretrial conference set for Jan. 11. If the case goes to trial, it will start Feb. 16.

Authorities began investigating Winebark after learning of the alleged June 12 assault. Deputy Maury McKinney of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office spoke with witnesses, who accused of Winebark of “arranging a fight” with the minor via text message.

Winebark, who was in Libby during the text message exchange,* confronted the minor, court documents said. After exiting his vehicle, Winebark allegedly struck the juvenile in the face, breaking the younger boy’s jaw, McKinney wrote.

Winebark and several friends left the scene after the minor told them the punch had broken his jaw, court documents said. The minor later received treatment at a medical facility in Libby and was sent to Kalispell for surgery.

Aggravated assault carries a maximum punishment of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $50,000.

*This sentence originally erroneously stated the alleged assault occurred in Troy. The alleged assault occurred in Libby.