Man found guilty of battery in local bar
Christopher Lash, 28, has been found guilty of Battery Causing Substantial Bodily Harm stemming from a March 25, 2011 altercation at a local bar in Carson City.
Carson City Sheriff’s deputies were called to a local establishment at 2:00 A.M. with reports of a man striking another man in the face with a pint glass. The suspect fled the scene when deputies arrived, but the deputies received statements from witnesses indicating Christopher Lash struck the victim, Nicholas Moen, in the face with a pint glass causing severe injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies observed a significant amount of blood throughout the scene. Carson City Sheriff’s Detective Morgan Tucker testified that blood was splattered across the walls, televisions, barstools, and floor. He also located a shattered pint glass on the floor of the bar. Eventually, the deputy’s investigation led him to Christopher Lash as a suspect.
Tucker testified that Lash admitted striking Moen in the head with a beer glass. At trial, the defendant argued it was in self defense, but admitted that he did not know the victim prior to the incident, that the victim had nothing in his hands and that the victim never touched him. The victim, Moen, testified that he was leaving the scene after a verbal altercation with Lash, when Lash suddenly struck him in the head with the beer glass. This version of events was corroborated by the bartender and the physical evidence.
District Attorney Neil Rombardo argued that it was not self-defense because the victim did nothing to the defendant except say something the defendant did not like. “Words without action or apparent action, do not justify striking someone in the head with a pint glass severing the victim’s artery, leaving permanent disfigurement, and prolonged pain,” argued Rombardo.
The jury returned its verdict on Thursday, April 26, 2012 after a two day trial in front of Judge James T. Russell. Mr. Lash will face up to 5 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 2, 2012.