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Fairmont man faces felony assault count

FAIRMONT — A Fairmont man is facing a felony charge in Martin County.

Brian Michael Finke, 42, has been charged with assault in the third degree, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On Nov. 24, a Martin County Sheriff’s deputy investigated a reported assault that occurred in the Martin County Jail. The deputy spoke to a 43-year-old man who said he was seated on a bench when Finke came out from the shower area and started yelling at him.

The man said Finke then punched him once with a closed fist on the bridge of his nose, causing it to start bleeding. He said the punch came out of nowhere, and he did not provoke Finke to punch him.

While speaking to the man, the deputy observed a small cut on the right side of his nose. He observed the man’s left eye also appeared swollen and showed signs of bruising. The man said the punch made him feel dizzy, and made the vision in his left eye blurry.

The man was transported to the Mayo-Fairmont Emergency Department. After being an examination, it was determined the man’s nose had been broken from the punch.

The deputy then spoke to another inmate who said the man was seated on a bench and that Finke was angry about some spilled coffee grounds near his wall locker. He said Finke walked into the shower area while staring at the man.

A short time later Finke got into the man’s face and yelled, eventually punching him in the face with a closed fist.

The incident was recorded on surveillance video. Jail staff reviewed the video, which showed the man seated at a table. Finke is seen getting in the man’s face and punching him once. The man’s head went back from Finke’s punch.

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