Rexburg doctor Michael Larson faces more charges in domestic battery case

Published at 5:16 pm, January 6, 2016 | Updated at 2:18 pm, January 8, 2016

Stephan Rockefeller, EastIdahoNews.com

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RIVERTON, Wyoming — Prosecutors have filed additional charges — one of them a felony — against Michael Larson, of Rexburg, for his alleged role in a November domestic abuse case.

Courts documents show the 60-year-old surgeon is charged with felony restraint, three counts of misdemeanor domestic battery and endangering children. Previously, Larson was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. It is unclear if the original misdemeanor charge is included among the new charges.

EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Fremont County, Wyoming, Deputy Prosecutor Ember Oakly for comment about the additional charges, but she was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

A criminal summons obtained by EastIdahoNews.com from the Circuit Court of Fremont County, details the new charges against Larson:

Court Summons

1. Felonious Restraint: A felony, alleging Larson knowingly and unlawfully restrained another in circumstances exposing her to risk of serious bodily injury.
2. Domestic Battery: A misdemeanor, alleging Larson knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to another household member by use of physical force(to wit: kicking and punching a woman)
3. Domestic Battery: A misdemeanor, alleging Larson knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to another household member by use of physical force(to wit: biting woman)
4. Domestic Battery: A misdemeanor, alleging Larson knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to another household member by use of physical force(to wit: pulling and ripping hair out and using her hair to hit the woman’s head against objects)
5. Endangering Children: A misdemeanor, alleging Larson a parent of a child knowingly or with criminal negligence caused, permitted or contributed to the endangering of the child’s life or health by violation a duty of care, protection or support.

EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Larson’s Wyoming attorney, but he was unavailable for comment.

Police reports show Larson was at the cabin with his wife and several children for Thanksgiving. The incident allegedly occurred over several hours during the early morning of Nov. 28. In the report, the wife told police Larson had been drinking. Following a verbal argument, she said Larson dragged her outside by her hair, threatened her and repeatedly hit and kicked her. He is also alleged to have struck a child.

Local authorities were forced to ram a locked gate at the cabin with a police vehicle to rescue the wife and children following a 911 call.

Larson was arrested and booked into the Fremont County Jail. He was assigned a $2,500 bond. He was bailed out by Robin Dunn.

Dunn is the Jefferson County prosecuting attorney, but he told EastIdahoNews.com that he made the trip to Wyoming as a friend and not in an official capacity.

“I went to Wyoming as a financier, as a friend and not as a representative of Jefferson County,” Dunn said.

Court documents show Larson is scheduled to appear in court in Riverton, Wyoming, on Friday, Jan. 8. If found guilty on all charges, Larson could face 7.5 years in prison and or a $3,250 fine.

Court Summons

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