Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Wildomar Man Enters Plea In Stabbing Case

Brian Kenneth Middleton, 50, is being held in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail.

An ex-con charged with stabbing a friend during a drinking binge at a Wildomar home was charged Tuesday with assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

Brian Kenneth Middleton, 50, of Wildomar was arrested the night of Aug. 22 after allegedly attacking his housemate in their single-story residence in the 32400 block of Penrose Street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

During an in-custody arraignment Tuesday, Middleton pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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The defendant is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail at the Southwest Detention Center in French Valley and is next due in court Sept. 3.

According to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Middleton and his housemate, whose identity was not released, got into an argument while drinking and the defendant allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

911 was called and the victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the news release, deputies ordered Middleton out of the house, and when they received no response, a K-9 team was called in to search the property.

The dog and his handler found Middleton in a back room, according to the news release.

"The suspect refused to surrender and was bitten by the dog," the news release read. "At that point, [Middleton] was taken into custody without further incident."

He was transported to a hospital for doctors to examine the bite wound and later taken to jail.

According to court records, Middleton has prior convictions for forcible assault, spousal abuse, auto theft and burglary. --City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.



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