Havre man pleads not guilty to beating, locking up woman

HAVRE, Mont. – A Havre man has pleaded not guilty to charges of repeatedly beating his girlfriend and keeping her locked in a room for days.

The Havre Daily News reported Rick Valdez was charged with partner or family assault, kidnapping and destroying or tampering with a communications device.

He entered his plea Wednesday.

Charging documents say a woman told Hill County sheriff’s deputies she had been kept against her will in a room at Valdez’s home and beaten repeatedly for four days in January. She said Valdez had accused her of stealing a prescription medicine, which she denied.

The woman said she escaped Jan. 18 while Valdez was in the bathroom.

Authorities said her face was swollen and bruised and she had two black eyes.