Havre man denies charges of beating, kidnapping girlfriend

A Havre man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in state District Court in Havre to beating his girlfriend repeatedly and keeping her locked up in a room for days.

Rick Valdez, born in 1976, is charged with partner or family member assault, aggravated kidnapping and criminal destruction of or tampering with a communication device.

Charging documents say a woman told a deputy with the Hill County Sheriff's Office Jan. 18 that Valdez had assaulted her and kept her against her will in the Bitterroot Trailer Park.

The deputy met with the woman at the police department, where she was being treated by an E...