Zielinski indicted on assault charge 07/28/10

Story last updated at 6:15 PM on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Zielinski indicted on assault charge

By Michael Armstrong
Staff Writer

A Kenai grand jury last week indicted Richard M. Zielinski Jr. on three counts of assault. Zielinski, 20, faces charges of first-degree, second-degree and third-degree assault, all felonies. Although Homer Police Chief Mark Robl had said earlier police had a strong case for attempted murder, the grand jury stuck to the original charge of first-degree assault and added the lesser charges.

Zielinski is accused of stabbing Ryan Flanigan, 17, in the neck early on July 14 after Flanigan picked up Zielinski and Samuel D. Neace, 20, about 1:30 a.m. near East Hill Road and gave them a ride in his car to Neace's truck on Glacier View Court off East Hill Road. Both men fled after Flanigan crashed his car. Flanigan is recovering from a knife wound that nicked his jugular vein.

The grand jury also indicted Neace for first-degree hindering prosecution and fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance. Police allege Neace dropped his wallet containing methamphetamine near Flanigan's car.

Zielinski remains in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility in Kenai. Neace was released last week on $25,000 cash-only bail and is in 24-hour custody of his parents.

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Homer Alaska - News