Posted by Jon D on October 16, 2001 at 12:20:10:
From today's Daily Breeze:
Plea bargain is refused in assault
By Denise Nix
DAILY BREEZE
The Hermosa Beach man who was convicted last year of stealing and eating a prized halibut known as "Big Mama" decided Monday not to take a plea bargain on a probation violation that would have sent him to state prison for four years.
Taras Poznik, 25, and two others are facing three felony counts stemming from an alleged attack last month on Poznik's pregnant former girlfriend and her boyfriend.
If Poznik is found guilty of any of the counts related to the attack, he also will be convicted of violating probation he received in the fish incident.
Poznik's attorney, Laurie Belger, withdrew his client's plea in Torrance Superior Court after the victim told Poznik not to accept the deal and that she did not want to press charges. The woman reportedly is pregnant with Poznik's child.
Poznik, Trevor Ellis, 20, of Hermosa Beach and Kristofer Hansen, 21, of Redondo Beach are accused of kicking open the door of the woman's house the night of Sept. 22 and beating the woman's new boyfriend, who fled naked from the house, according to police.
The woman also reportedly ran, but was dragged back toward the house by Poznik, kicking and screaming, police said.
Belger said the woman had asked Poznik to come and get her from the house.