The State Attorney’s Office has dropped an aggravated battery charge against a man accused of using a tire iron to bludgeon a 50-year-old victim near Starke’s Ida Street in 2020.
Christian Devon Lee Kates, 31, of Starke, had been charged, along with Carl James Denson Jr., 26, of beating the man during an argument. The state dropped charges against Denson in May 2021.
According to court documents, the victim told Starke police that the men struck him during a game of dominoes. The victim later told investigators he had to have reconstructive surgery on his face. Police reported that several witnesses to the incident refused to cooperate with the investigation.
