Two men charged after brass knuckle attack on father and son near fair
By Trey Baylor
Click here for updates on this story
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — BLACKFOOT — Two men have been criminally charged after allegedly attacking a father and his juvenile son with brass knuckles near the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds.
Papa Steven Sagapolutele, 21, of Blackfoot, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery and one count of obstructing and delaying an officer. Kaleb Cutler, 22, of Pocatello, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery, one count of destruction of evidence and one count of obstructing and delaying an officer.
Both have been charged with enhancements for the use of a firearm or deadly weapon during the commission of a crime.
According to court documents, deputies with the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Maple Street near Blackfoot Physical Therapy for reports of a fight in progress on Saturday around 11:15 p.m. Deputies arrived to find the victims bleeding from injuries allegedly sustained during the attack.
Deputies spoke with the father, who said that while he was trying to leave the Eastern Idaho State Fair with his family, a group of people was in the roadway, disrupting traffic.
The victim reportedly told the group to get out of the road and was approached by a man later identified as Cutler, according to court documents. Cutler reportedly said, “La Familia Trece,” which court documents say is “gang-related language.”
The victim said he responded, “No one gives a sh** about that, man,” to which Cutler allegedly responded by lifting his shirt, exposing a handgun concealed in his waistband and producing a set of silver-colored brass knuckles.
According to court documents, Cutler began attacking the victim with the brass knuckles, striking him in the head.
Court documents state the victim said that he fell, at which point multiple individuals allegedly continued striking and kicking him on the ground. He identified Sagapolutele, who also allegedly used brass knuckles, as one of his attackers.
The victim said he was trying to surrender, and he heard his son yelling.
Court documents allege the father witnessed Cutler strike his son with the brass knuckles, hold him against a vehicle by his neck and throw him to the ground before allegedly stomping on his stomach.
Law enforcement reportedly arrived on scene soon after ran after the suspects, who were ultimately apprehended.
After detaining the suspects, court documents say deputies allegedly observed Cutler try to dispose of the brass knuckles. Deputies recovered the brass knuckles and noted in court documents that the brass knuckles appeared to have blood on them.
The victims were transported to Bingham Memorial Hospital.
According to court documents, the father identified Cutler and Sagapolutele from photographs taken by law enforcement.
According to a release from the Blackfoot Police Department, police are trying to locate Danion A. Hernandez Jr. in connection to the attack.
If you have video or witnessed the incident, contact Detective Kaigan Young with the Bingham Joint Investigation Unit at (208) 684‑6259.
Cutler and Sagapolutele have been appointed public defenders. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
If found guilty, Cutler may face up to 36 years in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $61,000. Sagapolutele may face up to 31 years in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $51,000.
Cutler and Sagapolutele are both set to appear in court Sept. 17 for preliminary hearings.
Although Cutler and Sagapolutele have been charged with crimes, that does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.