Stabbing suspect gets reduced bail

PALMER -- A man accused of stabbing his girlfriend was successful Monday in getting his bail amount cut in half.

Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler reduced David Steuer's bail to $2,500 and approved Big Lake resident Kerry Harthun as third-party custodian for hours when Steuer will not be at work. Previously, Steuer's employer Leonard Haire was OK'd as third-party custodian during work hours.

Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak argued for retaining the $5,000 bail amount, noting that Steuer previously was charged with a domestic violence crime in Texas.

"We see $5,000 bails in District Court for a second DUI," Kalytiak said. "This is a felony DV assault, and $5,000 is a pretty low bail for someone who already has a previous DV assault."

Steuer, 40, was charged with third-degree assault following an Oct. 25 incident at his girlfriend's house at Hollywood and Holston in Big Lake.

The two argued and Steuer pushed the woman, causing her to fall and hit her head, charging documents said. Then Steuer picked up a knife and waved it in front of the woman, who cut her hand while trying to take the knife away, according to charging documents.

Troopers found a "large quantity of blood smears" in the house when they arrived to investigate, court papers said, and the victim "had blood on her clothing, head and shoulders."

She was taken by ambulance to the Valley Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.

The woman told troopers she believed she was fighting for her life. She escaped after kicking and hitting Steuer so he let go of her. She ran from the house to call for help, charging documents said.

Steuer told troopers he and the woman went to a bar that evening but he couldn't remember anything after they got back to her house, court documents said.