Fillmore County District Court

On December 2, Casey Allen Otterness, 24, of Mabel, appeared before District Court Judge Jeremy Clinefelter.  Otterness is charged with Domestic Assault – By Strangulation, a felony with a maximum criminal penalty of three years imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine.  On or about November 28, a Fillmore County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to contact a nurse at Winneshiek Medical in Decorah regarding a domestic assault.   Amidst a night out with dubious circumstances, where the victim thought she was drugged, the victim got into a domestic argument with the defendant.  Otterness allegedly threw the victim onto the bed and strangled her.  The victim’s father detailed previous violent episodes from the defendant.  Otterness has a Fifth Degree Assault conviction on June 17, 2002 in Winneshiek County.