A Columbia River High School student who initially faced an attempted murder allegation was arraigned Wednesday on a lesser charge.
Christopher G. Philbrook, 17, of Vancouver entered a not-guilty plea in Clark County Superior Court to first-degree assault. He was scheduled to be arraigned last month, but the prosecution delayed filing charges to re-evaluate pursuing the first-degree attempted murder allegation.
Philbrook is accused of striking another male student in the head with an extendable metal baton at the Hazel Dell-area school Feb. 11. Philbrook is being charged as an adult based on his age and the nature of the crime. His trial is scheduled for April 25.
On Feb. 11, the school resource officer was informed of an assault that occurred at about 11 a.m. between Philbrook and another male student, 17. A 16-year-old female student who witnessed the attack told the officer that she and Philbrook used to date, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The girl said they broke up in January, and she had been dating the victim. She said she and the victim were standing in the hall during lunch when Philbrook confronted them about dating. He allegedly said, “I’m gonna come back and kill you!” the affidavit said.
Philbrook began to walk away from the couple, but then reached into his pocket and pulled out an extendable baton, the girl said. Philbrook hit the male student several times in the head, she said.
The victim told police he was struck about three times in the head. He said he also put up his hands to defend himself and was injured. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Video surveillance footage of the incident matched the accounts the ex-girlfriend and victim gave to police, according to the affidavit.
Philbrook tossed the weapon in a nearby ravine, according to the sheriff’s office. Volunteers from local search-and-rescue organizations combed the wooded ravine and found the weapon in the underbrush.
On Wednesday, Philbrook’s attorney, Jeff Sowder, asked Judge Scott Collier to lower the teen’s bail from $60,000 to $20,000. Collier declined to lower the bail.
