Colfax man charged with battery to an unborn child

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE —  A 21-year-old Colfax man who faces a variety of drug-related charges is now also charged with battery to an unborn child, domestic abuse, bail jumping and disorderly conduct.

Jacob H. Foslid made an initial appearance in Dunn County Circuit Court on the latest charges May 14.

Battery to an unborn child, domestic battery and disorderly conduct are all misdemeanors. The two counts of bail jumping are both felonies.

Foslid also is charged in connection with a traffic stop last summer with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine and two misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and methamphetamine.

In addition, Foslid is charged in connection with another traffic stop last October with two felony counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine, and felony bail jumping, along with a misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia.

The most recent charges of battery to an unborn child, domestic battery, felony bail jumping and disorderly conduct are related to an incident that occurred March 1.

According to the criminal complaint, Samantha Osterberg, 18, reported that she had been assaulted by Jacob Foslid at their residence on County Highway N in the Town of Colfax.

Osterberg also faced various drug charges as a party to a crime in connection with the traffic stop last summer. She pleaded guilty March 8 to the misdemeanor charge of possessing marijuana, and on a prosecutor’s motion, the other felonies of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver, possessing methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of methamphetamine were dismissed.

Judge Rod Smeltzer withheld sentencing and placed Osterberg on one year of probation and ordered her to complete 20 hours of community service.

According to the complaint, following the March 1 incident, Osterberg told investigators that she was nine weeks pregnant with Foslid’s child and that when she attempted to talk to him about sobering up and giving up “the dope,” they began arguing.

Foslid allegedly bit Osterberg on the wrist, the leg and the arm, threw a lamp at her, slapped her, kicked her in the stomach, pulled her hair, hit her in the head with a closed fist and threw a set of keys at her.

Investigators noted that they observed bruises from the bites that Osterberg described.

Battery to an unborn child and domestic battery each carry a penalty of up to a $10,000 fine and/or nine months in prison.

Felony bail jumping carries a penalty of up to a $10,000 fine and/or six years in prison for each count.

Disorderly conduct/domestic abuse carries a penalty of a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 90 days of imprisonment.

Foslid is scheduled for another court appearance July 26.