Man accused of slicing victim’s ear, gouging face with candle holder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man is accused of putting another man in the emergency room after he allegedly assaulted him with a candle holder on March 25.

James Couch, 32, was charged on Monday with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held on Monday.

The probable cause statement says the victim’s ear “was nearly cut in half” and that he had “deep gouges” on his face when police saw him on Wednesday at University Hospital. The officer also noted other cuts on the victim’s body in the probable cause statement.

The victim claimed Couch attacked him from behind while he was at a residence on Highview Avenue, the statement says. The victim claimed it was “out of character for Couch, but there were drugs involved including Adderall, meth, marijuana and Xanax,” court documents say.

Police at the Highview Avenue residence found a pool of blood in the home and on the walls, as well as in the passenger seat of a vehicle, the statement says. Two people described seeing the attack, which allegedly involved a candle holder.

One of the witnesses allegedly told police that Couch told them he needed to go to a hospital “or he may kill somebody,” the statement says.