A former Blaine County woman pleaded not guilty Monday to eight criminal charges stemming from an alleged rampage on Halloween night at The Mint bar in Hailey and later at the Blaine County jail.
Forty-one-year-old Lori Brutsche-Ely, who now lives in Twin Falls, entered her not guilty plea in Blaine County 5th District Court before Judge Robert J. Elgee, who read the charges one by one to the defendant.
They include four felony counts of battery on a police officer or jailer, one felony count of "injuring jails" and single misdemeanor counts of battery, malicious injury to property and indecent exposure.
The charges allege that Brutsche-Ely was found naked in front of The Mint on Main Street in Hailey when police arrived on a disturbance call the evening of Oct. 31. She also allegedly kicked a Mint security man in the groin and twice struck a female Hailey police officer.
Later at the jail, Brutsche-Ely allegedly caused about $1,500 damage in her holding cell by breaking an overhead sprinkler and flooding the area. She also allegedly battered a female jailer and bit a sheriff's officer, who received a tetanus shot following the disturbance. Finally, she allegedly broke a jewelry chain worn by one of the officers.
Elgee advised Brutsche-Ely that she could be sentenced to up to five years in prison on each of the felony charges. She could be sentenced to one year in jail on the malicious injury to property charge and up to six months each on the charges of misdemeanor battery and indecent exposure.
Brutsche-Ely, a tall woman with long red hair, sat calmly next to public defender Douglas Werth during Monday's court hearing.
Werth requested a jury trial, which was scheduled for Feb. 24, 2009. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Fredback said the trial should last about four days.
Brutsche-Ely remains free from custody on $25,000 bond.
Lori Brutsche-Ely
