Oak Harbor man prison-bound after assaulting wife, neighbor

A 53-year-old Oak Harbor resident who assaulted his wife last summer and attacked a neighbor who came to help her, seriously injuring the man, will likely be sent to prison.

Michael Monschau pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court Jan. 9 to assault in the second degree with a deadly weapon enhancement, unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree and assault in the fourth degree, a domestic-violence-related charge.

Monschau is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 23. Under a plea bargain, both the prosecutor and the defense attorney will recommend that Monschau receive a sentence of a year and 10 months in prison.

In addition, the attorneys will recommend that Monschau be ordered to pay restitution to the two victims.

According to court records, Monschau went out drinking at a bar on July 11 and became violent when he returned to his Cranberry Drive residence. He started throwing things at his wife while she was on the balcony and she yelled for help.

A neighbor, who was 66 years old at the time, climbed up the balcony to help the woman, but was attacked by Monschau. Monschau hit him with a stick and then a shovel, which knocked him off the balcony.

The neighbor’s pelvis was fractured in the fall, which immobilized him. Monschau got on top of him in the grass and choked him.

An investigator found a 30-30 rifle at Monschau’s home. He isn’t allowed to possess a gun because he had a previous domestic-violence conviction, court documents show.

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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