A 53-year-old Foley man facing one count of third-degree assault and two counts of fifth-degree assault after being accused of punching a Minnesota House candidate in a Benton County bar last October has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

 

Court records show Richard Donald Schmit entered his pleas Thursday in Benton County court. A settlement conference in the matter is scheduled for Feb. 21.

 

The Benton County Sheriff's Office has previously identified the victim of the alleged assault as Shane Mekeland. The Republican was elected to the state house in November.

 

A criminal complaint states the alleged assault took place Oct. 12 at a restaurant in St. George Township around 9 p.m., but was reported to law enforcement the next day.

 

Mekeland told authorities he struck his head on the floor and passed out after his bar chair fell backward. The investigating deputy noted that Mekeland did have swelling under his left eye.

 

In an interview with police, Schmit allegedly said he had consumed "six or seven bottles of beer" prior to the incident, according to the complaint. He said Mekeland sat next to him and started campaigning.

 

The complaint claims Schmit told police he "used his right hand to jab" at Mekeland's face after he made a comment about the middle class.