MIDDLEBURY — A Burlington man on Monday pleaded innocent in Addison Superior Court, criminal division, to misdemeanor charges of domestic assault and unlawful mischief, stemming from an incident in Salisbury on April 4.
Vermont State Police Trooper Joseph Szarejko investigated the incident involving Nathan I. Hansen, 28. It was at 3:34 a.m. that Szarejko responded to a report of a family fight in Salisbury, though he later learned that the alleged victim had proceeded to an East Middlebury home.
The female victim in the case is related to Hansen, according to court records. The two were at a mutual friend’s house that evening when Hansen — who had allegedly been drinking that evening — had to be escorted out of the residence, according to Szarejko’s court affidavit.
The victim told police that she was driving Hansen home when they began arguing. That argument escalated to a point where Hansen, seated in the front passenger’s seat, is alleged to have struck the woman in the right side of her face. The victim also claimed that Hanson punched and broke the passenger side of the windshield of her car.
At that point, the victim pulled to the side of the road and ordered Hansen to get out, which he did, according to Szarejko. A relative later picked up Hansen, according to court records.
If convicted on the domestic assault charge, Hansen faces up to 18 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000.