A Whitefish teenager has pleaded not guilty in the severe beating of another teen outside of Whitefish High School.
Eighteen-year-old Joseph W. Goetsch pleaded to a felony charge of aggravated assault Thursday in District Court. The case of a younger teen also accused in the March 18 attack is pending in Youth Court.
Documents filed in court state that a witness reported seeing the younger defendant tackle a 16-year-old boy, then punch him. Investigators were told that Goetsch kicked the boy in the abdomen and punched him in the mouth, knocking out teeth. Another witness said the 16-year-old was pinned to the ground while beaten.
He lost consciousness and was taken to the Whitefish hospital, by ambulance.
Goetsch presented himself at the police station after the attack was reported to authorities. They located the younger defendant as he rode a bus home from school.