Oak Harbor man charged with first-degree assault in motel beating

Micah Quinton Atkins, 32, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault following a violent incident outside the Acorn Motor Inn in Oak Harbor. Prosecutors upgraded the charges due to the severity of the victim's injuries.

On October 2, police responded to reports of a partially unclothed 40-year-old woman lying near a wooded area outside the motel. The victim suffered extreme facial swelling, bruising, and cuts. She was transported via helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where doctors diagnosed her with three brain bleeds, multiple broken facial bones, and neck injuries consistent with strangulation.

In addition to the first-degree assault charge, Atkins faces charges of fourth-degree assault and violation of a domestic violence protection order.