Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A 28-year-old former Steamboat Springs man could be sentenced today to two years in the Routt County Jail for assaulting his girlfriend earlier this year.
Adam Whitlow Cumbie is scheduled to be sentenced by Routt County District Court Judge Joel S. Thompson at 2:30 p.m. for his October guilty plea to third-degree assault, a class one misdemeanor.
The charge stems from an incident involving Cumbie, Melinda Wilding, who was Cumbie's girlfriend at the time, and a friend, Andrew Wilson.
The incident occurred at a residence in the 2900 block of Chinook Lane the evening of March 31.
According to a court file, Cumbie was assaulting Wilson outside on a deck when his girlfriend tried to break up the fight.
Cumbie bit Wilding on her "forearm and shoved her away with his feet, causing her to fall against the wall," the file shows.
Along with possible jail time, Thompson could also fine Cumbie as much as $5,000.
Cumbie also pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a weapon, a class five felony. He has received a deferred sentence for this charge.
The felony charge stems from the fight Cumbie had with Wilson. During the fight, Cumbie struck Wilson in the head with a sledgehammer.
Because of a plea agreement worked out between Cumbie's attorney, James Oliphant, and Deputy District Attorney Charles Feldmann, the sentence for the crime has been deferred for two years.
To avoid being sentenced for that crime, Cumbie cannot commit any offense other than a minor traffic violation for two years. If he does violate the agreement, he could be sentenced to six years in prison and fined $5,000. He would also be placed on three years of parole.
If he does comply with the agreement, the charge will be dismissed.
Following the assault, Wilson was treated at the Yampa Valley Medical Center for a bump on the back of his head, a bruised eye and a bloody nose.
The two men got into a fight at Wilding's residence because, according to court documents, Wilson was trying to mediate a fight between the couple. At the time, the three friends were drinking alcohol at the residence, the file shows.
Cumbie was outside on the deck chopping a piece of wood with the hammer, which has a sharpened end and a blunt end, when the fight between him and Wilson occurred, the file shows.
Police did not arrest Cumbie until the next day. He was caught running from Wilding's residence on the morning of April 1, the document shows.
Initially, Cumbie was charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, violent crime with use of a weapon, criminal attempt and third-degree assault.
Since the incident, Cumbie has moved to Breckenridge.

To reach Gary E. Salazar call 871-4205 or e-mail @amigo.net