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Man accused of assault with baseball bat

A 51-year-old man will make his first appearance next week in Olmsted County District Court, where he's accused of beating another man with a baseball bat.

William Joseph Blanchard faces one count each of second- and third-degree assault, both felonies. He's been released from custody in lieu of $10,000 conditional bond.

The investigation began Oct. 16, when a man contacted law enforcement to report the assault.

Blanchard had been staying in a camper on some property near Oronoco, the man said; Blanchard attacked the victim Oct. 11 when he told Blanchard to move on, the complaint says.

The man told authorities Blanchard hit him in the head with a bat, knocking him unconscious. Blanchard then struck the victim again with the bat, hitting him in the head and right shoulder, court documents say.

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The assault left the man with broken bones around his eye socket, requiring surgery. The deputy describes the victim as having "dark purple and green markings about three inches in diameter around his left eye."

A witness told officers the man called her Oct. 11 and put her on speaker phone; she could hear him arguing with Blanchard, but the call ended shortly after the victim said Blanchard was going to hit him with a baseball bat.

Blanchard allegedly admitted to punching the man in the face with his fist, claiming self-defense. He said he stays in his camper in the Owatonna and Dodge Center area.

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