Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — An Australian man facing felony assault charges received permission Wednesday to leave the state to visit friends in Maryland.

Richard Kelvin Lillingstone-Hall, 23, had his request granted by Routt County Judge James Garrecht to leave the state between May 11 and June 1.

Lillingstone-Hall also waived a preliminary hearing in county court and was bound over into 14th Judicial District Court.

He is scheduled to enter pleas to felony second-degree assault causing bodily injury, two counts of felony criminal mischief, two counts of misdemeanor mischief and harassment at 9:15 a.m. June 15 in District Judge Joel S. Thompson's courtroom.

Lillingstone-Hall, who has worked for the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.'s ski school for the past two ski seasons, allegedly broke the left cheekbone of co-worker Irvin Fisher and damaged Fisher's vehicle the evening of April 11.

According to court records, Lillingstone-Hall was attending a gathering with other ski school employees at the Steamboat Grand Hotel.

An intoxicated Lillingstone-Hall allegedly broke a window of a hotel restaurant when he heaved a chair through it.

Lillingstone-Hall then allegedly went out on Mount Werner Circle and stopped Fisher's vehicle by jumping on the hood.

After Fisher stopped the vehicle, he was allegedly punched in the face by his co-worker, court records show.

After Fisher drove away, Lillingstone-Hall allegedly attempted to stop a second vehicle.

Lillingstone-Hall is free on bail. He posted a $20,000 bond April 12. He was arrested earlier that day when he showed up for work at the Steamboat Ski Area.

Currently, Lillingstone-Hall's work visa has expired, but he has applied for an extension, said his attorney, Norm Townsend.

"His application is pending," Townsend said. Because it is pending, "That makes him legal for the time being."

Garrecht warned Lillingstone-Hall of the consequences if he fails to return to Steamboat Springs from Maryland. If he fails to return, he could be charged with violating a bond condition, a felony that carries a mandatory one year in jail, Garrecht said.