Man accused in screwdriver stabbing

A 33-year-old South Whidbey man is accused of stabbing his mother in the head with a screwdriver.

A 33-year-old South Whidbey man is accused of stabbing his mother in the head with a screwdriver and then assaulting an officer on Aug. 28, according to court documents.

The victim suffered a bloody puncture wound to the top of her head but refused to go to the hospital, according to a report by a deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Richard L. Martin pleaded not guilty in Island County Superior Court Aug. 30 to assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, felony harassment, assault in the third degree, resisting arrest and burglary in the second degree. The first-degree and second-degree assault counts are domestic-violence-related charges.

If convicted of the charges against him, Martin could face up to 19 years and eight months in prison under the standard sentencing range.

The victim told investigators that Martin attacked her in a trailer home on Kirkhill Road after she had asked him to help catch her dog. She said Martin stabbed her in the head with a screwdriver, hit her on the head repeatedly, choked her and threatened to kill her; she said she felt nauseous and her head was pounding, the deputy’s report states.

The deputy noted that the skin around the puncture wound on the woman’s head was very red and inflamed. The entire top of her head was swollen and the skin was “squishy” when palpitated. The deputy repeatedly asked her to seek medical attention and asked her friend to try to convince her to go to the hospital.

The woman said she was able to kick Martin in the crotch and escape as she was being choked, the report states.

Martin allegedly pushed and struck a Langley police officer who responded to the call and resisted arrest, the report states. The officers were finally able to take him into custody after deploying a Taser.