RIVER FALLS, Wis. - A River Falls teenager was charged earlier this month in Pierce County Circuit Court with felony second-degree reckless endangerment.
Joseph T. Kobs, 17, 1430 Cemetery Ln., No. 103, is looking at a maximum penalty of $25,000 and/or 10 years prison if found guilty. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charge Monday of this week.
According to court records, River Falls police and a Pierce County child protection worker went to interview the victim, a 13-year-old girl, in March.
The victim explained that, three days earlier, she smelled marijuana coming from his room. She knew Kobs, who was 16 at the time, wasn't supposed to be smoking pot and confronted him about it.
She said Kobs became angry and threw a butcher knife at her.
ADVERTISEMENT
The knife flew past her head and hit the recliner behind her. She also said he was holding another knife with a shorter blade.
The victim also said that, last November, Kobs became angry at her, came up behind her and held a knife approximately one inch from her neck. She said she didn't remember if Kobs said anything to her during this incident.
When police interviewed Kobs, he admitted to having an altercation with the victim and grabbing some knives. He said one of the knives slipped out of his hand accidentally and flew in the direction of the victim, hitting the recliner behind her. He estimated the knife came within one foot from the victim's head. He maintained the knife wasn't thrown at her intentionally.
The victim also stated to police Kobs threatened to cut her on the arm after throwing the knife at her. Kobs admitted to that because the victim wouldn't stop talking to him in a matter he didn't agree with.
The report states Kobs' anger increased during the conversation, stating the only way he can stop the victim from doing things he doesn't like is to threaten her with knives. Police asked about the earlier knife incident the victim brought up and he admitted to brandishing the knife and threatening her with it.
Police were notified by Pierce County child protection workers Kobs was on "house arrest" when the alleged incident occurred and he is wearing an ankle bracelet. The arrest was for failure of a drug test and for allegedly committing arson.
