Canadian man pleads not guilty to Yaak assault
Todd Romanuik
A Canadian man is accused of assaulting his father-in-law at a campground in the Yaak.
Todd Edward Romanuik, 50, of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, is charged with one felony count of assault with a weapon following the July 31 incident at the Lower Yaak Campground.
Romanuik appeared on video for his arraignment Dec. 2 in Lincoln County District Court where he pleaded not guilty. Sean D. Hinchey is defending him.
Deputy County Attorney Lauren O’Neill is prosecuting the case.
According to the narrative in the charging document by county Deputy Ben Fisher, he received a call from dispatch on July 31 about an assault. He went to the Troy Police Department to speak to the alleged victim and his wife.
The man, Romanuik’s father-in-law, said the defendant and his daughter from his first marriage were camping with them. He said Romanuik and his wife were having issues because he caught her vaping in the tent. After dinner, the family discussed First Nation and other ethnic issues. The father-in-law said Romanuik got agitated, stood up and threw a full, unopened beer can at him.
The alleged victim stood up and told his son-in-law if he was going to act that way, he should leave. Romanuik allegedly picked up a metal folding camp chair and swung it at his father-in-law.
The father-in-law blocked the blow with his left arm, grabbed the chair and Romanuik punched him in the left side of the head.
They were separated, but the alleged victim said he was going to report the incident. The father-in-law and his wife left and went to Troy where they called 911.
Romanuik had left the campground and headed back to Canada when Fisher got the call.
After the county attorney decided to move forward with the case, a warrant for Romanuik’s arrest was issued in late August. He was arrested Oct. 10 in Sheridan County, Montana.
He posted a $25,000 cash bond and was released.
Romanuik’s next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13.
A conviction for assault with a weapon may result in a 20-year sentence in the Montana State Prison.