Lawyer to hire an investigator

A 28-year-old Albert Lea man charged in February with allegedly slashing another man in the hand with a knife entered a provisional not guilty plea Thursday to his charge.

Travis Anthony Larsen is accused of slashing the 25-year-old man, an intimate partner, with a 4-inch butterfly knife after the two had been drinking and were watching a movie in an apartment at 221 E. Main St.

He faces a second-degree assault charge tied to the incident.

Court documents state Larsen allegedly began acting like he was having a conversation with another person not present, when he became agitated and pulled the knife out of his pocket.

He allegedly slashed forward, after which the victim stepped back and threw up his hands in defense. He sustained a cut to the palm of his left hand.

Larsen was arrested near 338 S. Broadway, and the knife was reportedly found in his right front jacket pocket.

Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson called the case a “serious” one.

If the case makes it to trial, it is expected to take five days, his lawyer Peggy Rockow said.

Rockow said she plans to conduct extensive interviews and hire a private investigator to look into the matter.

She requested 60 days to do so.

If, after that time, there are no questions about evidence or probable cause, the case will proceed to trial.

Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine.