Lewiston man charged with battery after stabbing

A 20-year-old man was given a $50,000 bond after being charged with aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing a 32-year-old man.

Torquile E. McIntosh, of Lewiston, was charged with felony aggravated battery for allegedly using a knife to cut Steven Leonard’s abdomen, causing internal injuries. The charge has a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison as well as a $50,000 fine, according to court documents.

Lewiston police responded to a report of a stabbing at 7:56 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of South Garden Court.

Police talked with several witnesses and later McIntosh and Leonard. McIntosh was living at the residence, and the bed he shared with his girlfriend was in the living room, which was also where Leonard and his infant child slept.

Several other adults and children live in the home, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Witnesses reported an argument between McIntosh’s girlfriend and Leonard about children in the home being noisy when they were trying to sleep, and McIntosh then got into the argument.

McIntosh allegedly took a knife, and when Leonard approached the bed, McIntosh allegedly stabbed him, according to the affidavit.

McIntosh told police in an interview that Leonard allegedly threatened to beat him, but didn’t take action before McIntosh allegedly stabbed him.

McIntosh told police that he felt threatened and didn’t want to wait for Leonard to hit him first.

He said he needed a weapon to fight because he has “limp noodle” arms and can’t fight with them, according to the affidavit.

McIntosh also told police he knew Leonard didn’t have a weapon. When police asked if there was anything he would have done differently he said he should have used the knife handle or left the situation, according to the affidavit.

Leonard spoke with detectives at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, in Lewiston, where he was being treated and said McIntosh allegedly grabbed the knife when he was holding his infant, which made him upset.

He said he told McIntosh he was going to knock him out, and when he put his child down McIntosh allegedly stabbed him, according to the affidavit.

Detectives also documented the wound on Leonard’s abdomen. The single stab wound was 2 centimeters wide near the belly button, according to the affidavit. According to St. Joseph, Leonard was in fair condition Friday afternoon.

McIntosh made his initial appearance by Zoom from the Nez Perce County Jail on Friday before Magistrate Judge Victoria Olds at the Nez Perce County Courthouse.

County Deputy Prosecutor Nathan Rupp and Peyton Lawrence, McIntosh’s attorney at the hearing, noted that McIntosh didn’t have a criminal history.

But Rupp argued that McIntosh presented a risk to the victim and the community because the alleged stabbing took place “without any provocation.” The prosecutor’s office requested a $50,000 bond, which was granted by Olds, who noted the serious nature of the charge as reason for the bond amount.

Olds also granted a no-contact order between Leonard and McIntosh for two years, as well as no contact with the address on South Garden Court.

McIntosh’s next court date is June 3 and Rick Cuddihy was appointed as public defender.

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.