Austin man pleads not guilty to felony assault

Published 6:58 am Friday, February 5, 2010

An Austin man accused of slashing a roommate with a knife last week pleaded not guilty to a felony assault charge Thursday.

Jason Michael Griese, 23, also pleaded not guilty to a lesser count of domestic assault. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing March 26. His trial would then begin April 5.

According to a police report, the alleged incident occurred at around 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 25 at 1220 Second Drive NE. Griese allegedly started flirting with his 21-year-old roommate’s girlfriend, who also lives in the apartment, which angered the 21-year-old.

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He confronted Griese and began to fight with him, at which point Griese went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, the report states.

The report states that all three were drinking. The victim’s girlfriend, 19, who called in the incident, was cited for minor consumption.

The 21-year-old suffered a deep cut to his palm, as well as to his lip, leaving blood stains throughout the kitchen and the front of the apartment. He was taken to Austin Medical Center but later released.

He told police that the cut to this palm likely occurred while trying to take the knife from Griese, who at one point allegedly had him pinned to the floor with the knife to his mouth, the report states.