Man pleads not guilty in assault outside Mountlake Terrace pub

Brandon Knoth (right) pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault charges before Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ellen Fair. With Knoth is his defense attorney Thomas Cox, who requested that his client's face not be shown in any photos.
Brandon Knoth (right) pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault charges before Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ellen Fair. With Knoth is his defense attorney Thomas Cox, who requested that his client’s face not be shown in any photos.

Charged with first-degree assault in an attack that put his victim in Harborview with potentially life-threatening injuries, 32-year-old Brandon Knoth entered a not-guilty plea Thursday in Snohomish County Superior Court.

Despite attorney Thomas Cox arguing that Knoth is married with three children, owns his own company and poses minimal risk of violating any terms of release, Judge Ellen Fair set $10,000 bail, citing that Knoth’s past criminal history dating back to 2009 makes him a “risk to the community.” Additional restrictions while out on bail include no contact with the victim, refraining from any drinking or drug use, and no criminal violations.

According to charging documents, Knoth attacked a fellow patron in the parking lot of O’Houlie’s Pub, 21919 66th Ave. W. in Mountlake Terrace, during the early-morning hours of Monday, June 6. The documents cite surveillance video showing Knoth punching the victim in the face, knocking him down, and when the victim returned to his feet, returning to punch and knock him down again. Knoth then got into another vehicle and left the scene.

The victim was taken to Swedish Edmonds and after initial evaluation was transported to Harborview, where he was listed in critical condition with multiple skull fractures and a cerebral hemorrhage, necessitating emergency surgery to decompress the bleeding in his head. (More details in earlier MLTnews coverage here.)

According to court papers doctors told investigators that “without prompt medical assistance, there is a likelihood the victim would have died.”

Knoth’s trial is scheduled for Oct. 21.

— Story and photo by Larry Vogel

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