Man accused of breaking woman's arm

A Sept. 24 hearing is set for a 44-year-old Gardnerville man accused of breaking a woman's arm.

Ronald John Smith was charged with domestic battery following his arrest Sept. 5.

The incident allegedly took place at his home on July 27.

Smith denied the allegation and told investigators the woman probably hurt her arm when she fell walking up a flight of stairs on July 25. He said she fabricated the story that he struck her.

Deputies were called to Carson Valley Medical Center shortly before midnight on July 27 where the 55-year-old woman was being treated for a broken left arm.

She claimed she awoke Smith and he became enraged. She said he grabbed a breathing mask from his sleep apnea machine, threw it at her, then punched, kicked and choked her.

She said he broke her arm when he knocked her off a stool as she was trying to turn on a light.

According to the victim, Smith threatened to kill her and bury her body on Leviathan Mine Road.

She said before she left the residence, he forced her to write a note swearing that he didn't hurt her.

She said the couple had been dating about one year. The woman claimed Smith threatened her before but never struck her.

Lawyer Tod Young was appointed to represent Smith after the suspect said he was in bankruptcy.

He said his financial woes were created as he successfully defended himself from charges that he sexually assaulted the 13-year-old son of a former girlfriend.

Smith was acquitted of the charges in April 2007.

He told East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl that a previous attorney had a $77,000 lien against his house.

EnEarl ordered Smith to stay away from the alleged victim.