Alleged assault lands teen in hospital

WASILLA — A teenager was in the hospital with a broken jaw and man was out on bail following an alleged assault, authorities said.

James D. Griffin, 45, of Wasilla, had posted $500 cash performance bond Thursday, according to corrections documents.

Troopers responded to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer about 11:30 p.m. June 26. Gregory Long told troopers James had told him that Long’s 15-year-old son, who was residing at James’ residence in Houston, along with his 13-year-old daughter, had injured himself by falling onto an ATV, according to an affidavit written by trooper Christopher Long.

While Long was driving his son to the hospital, the boy mentioned that Griffin had struck him.

The teenager was eventually transported to Providence Hospital for treatment of a broken mandible, according to the affidavit.

“After the incident, James apologized to G.L. (the teen) and said that he didn’t mean for that to happen,” Long wrote.

When troopers spoke with the daughter, she told them that she hadn’t seen the full incident, “but did observe James kick G.L. on the stomach three or four times while G.L. was on the ground,” Long wrote. “A.L. believed that G.L. was kicked after he was struck on the face because she had observed bloody tissues nearby on the ground.”

Long interviewed Griffin on July 1, according to the affidavit.

“James (Griffin) denied striking G.L. and indicated that G.L. fell onto a 4-wheeler that was parked inside of his garage,” Long wrote.

Troopers charged Griffin with one count of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault. At a bail hearing Wednesday, Griffin’s bail was reduced from $1,500 cash or corporate to $500 performance, with electronic monitoring conditions by magistrate Tara Logsdon. Griffin posted bail Tuesday morning.

The case has been assigned to superior court judge Kari Kristiansen.

Griffin’s next court appearance is July 22 for a preliminary hearing, according to court records.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.