March 11 – EAU CLAIRE – An Eau Claire teenager has been fined $443 for injuring two men in a recorded fight that was posted on social media.
Maxwell F. Oatman, 19, recently pleaded no appeal on a battery misdemeanor charge in Eau Claire District Court. A felony of physically abusing a child and a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct and bail jumping were dismissed but considered by Judge Jon Theisen in sentencing.
Oatman also did not plead a challenge to an unrelated offense of possession of a firearm by a determined delinquent and a misdemeanor count of bail jumping.
In that case, Oatman was sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence and a $961 fine. As a condition of parole, Oatman may not own weapons, drink alcohol, or enter taverns. He also has to undergo an alcohol and drug test.
Either way, Oatman’s record will be erased if he successfully completes his sentences.
According to the criminal complaint in the event of a fight:
Eau Claire Police officers were dispatched to a report of a fight in the 1200 block of South Dewey Street on October 31, 2021. It was reported that 10 or more people were involved in a fight and that some of them fled up the hill on Harding Avenue in a silver SUV.
One woman said Oatman was involved in the fight in which her husband was attacked. The woman said Oatman also pulled a knife on her husband’s 16-year-old brother, who was also injured.
When officers arrived, there were no suspects at the scene.
Two days later, the 16-year-old’s mother told police Oatman had hit her son, causing his tooth to severe his cheek. Her son wasn’t sure why Oatman hit him.
The 16-year-old’s older brother suffered bruises on the right side of his stomach and a superficial knee wound during the fight.
The 16-year-old showed police video of the fight that had been posted on social media.
The video begins with an argument between the older brother and another person in the kitchen of the South Dewey Street residence. The fight then began as three men rushed towards the older brother. Oatman is clearly visible in the video and is seen punching the older brother multiple times on the right side of his abdomen.
The story goes on
Video later shows Oatman attacking the younger brother after the 16-year-old tried to restrain Oatman at a door.
Police questioned Oatman on January 27, 2022 at the Eau Claire County Jail.
When asked what happened on Oct. 31, 2021, Oatman said, “I can just show you a video that will prove everything.”
Oatman admitted to hitting the two brothers. He said the argument started with a racist comment from the older brother. He said he hit the younger brother four times.
Oatman said he left the scene of the fight because he was on probation, knew the police were coming and was drunk.
At the time of the incident, Oatman was at large on a pending misdemeanor case in Eau Claire County.
