A Perham man accused of assaulting an alleged stabber will face a jury Dec. 20.
Christopher Lee Gilmer faces an assault charge stemming from an Oct. 17 incident that occurred inside the Otter Tail County Jail.
According to court documents, Gilmer approached Robert Wesley McCane, a Missouri man who was in jail for the Oct. 6 stabbing of a Perham woman outside a Super 8 motel, and punched the man in the face.
McCane reported the assault and said he was returning to his cell from an appointment when Gilmer hit him.
McCane said Gilmer asked if he was "number 7," and when it was confirmed that he was in cell seven, Gilmer punched him in the face.
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Court documents state that witnesses confirmed the story, saying that Gilmer claimed to know the woman who had allegedly been stabbed by McCane.
McCane was in jail for two felony assault charges stemming from the Perham stabbing. James Thomas-Lee Manning was also in Otter Tail County jail at the time.
When questioned, Gilmer denied punching McCane in the face. He said he may have made contact with McCane when he walked by him and raised his hands, according to court documents.
Gilmer was in jail for assault charges and alleged violations of restraining orders.
