Somerville pleads not guilty; case set for Feb. jury trial

One of the two men accused in a pair of local September assaults on the same victim at Thirsty’s Bar pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Thomas Somerville, 38, entered the plea to the simple assault charge through his lawyer.

Somerville is accused of assaulting Clint Dreyer, 36, of Mitchell, on Sept. 30 inside Thirsty’s Bar in Mitchell. Somerville manages the bar.

Simple assault is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum one-year county jail sentence, a $2,000 fine or both.

Somerville’s attorney, Cynthia Ahrendt, of Sioux Falls, requested a jury trial, which Judge Patrick Kiner scheduled for the week of Feb. 7.

That is one week prior to the jury trial set for William Watkins, the man accused of severely injuring Dreyer later the same night outside Thirsty’s Bar. Watkins’ trial is set to begin Feb. 14.

Watkins is charged with aggravated assault, a felony that carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence, a $30,000 fine or both.

According to information on a CaringBridge website, Dreyer remains hospitalized in Sioux Falls.

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