IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Augustus Wyatt Gokey, 27, was arrested Sunday night after allegedly striking a man in the head with a baseball bat at a home in Idaho Falls. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. when police responded to a report of an assault. Gokey faces a felony charge of aggravated assault causing great bodily harm, which carries up to five years in prison if he’s convicted.
Police found the victim with a large cut on his forehead, bleeding heavily. He let officers inside, where they met Gokey, who seemed agitated, sweaty, and possibly intoxicated. After confirming he had no weapons, officers handcuffed him. The victim refused medical help despite his injury.
Gokey said he went to the home to retrieve a shotgun from a safe, fearing threats from “30 men” tied to an ex-girlfriend situation. He claimed the victim denied him the gun and attacked him first. Gokey said he pushed the man, who fell and hit his head on a rowing machine, denying use of the bat he’d brought for protection.
The victim told a different story: Gokey arrived with the bat, demanding the gun. Concerned about Gokey’s state, the victim refused. Gokey then tried to break into the safe with a grinder. When confronted, he allegedly swung the bat, hitting the victim during a struggle. Blood was found on the bat, now in evidence.
Gokey was placed in a patrol car after growing loud and uncooperative. He denied recent drug use but admitted past heroin and fentanyl use. His preliminary hearing is set for March 28 at 1 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Stephen Clark.
