Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Campus News

Shane Peterson

The case against one UW-Eau Claire senior for first degree reckless injury, as a party to a crime, took a step forward Tuesday.

Shane M. Peterson, 22, will enter a plea at a Dec. 14 arraignment in Eau Claire Circuit Court after Judge Benjamin Proctor found there was probable cause to continue with the case stemming from an August stabbing in the Water Street area.

Patrick Luck, a UW-Stout student, testified against Peterson and received use immunity, meaning his testimony could not be used against him in his own case. Luck accompanied Peterson the night of the incident and was involved in a physical confrontation, according to the criminal complaint.

Luck's hearing for the same charge takes place today at the Eau Claire County Courthouse.

The charges stem from an Aug. 26 incident in which Peterson and Luck were involved in a fight with three men at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Lake Street that led to Chippewa Valley Technical College student Sam Rud spending several days in the hospital with a stab wound, according to the criminal complaint.

Luck testified that after a verbal altercation with three men, he and Peterson went to Peterson's house. Peterson said he wanted to fight and went into the house and got two knives, giving one to Luck, Luck said. Luck and Peterson then went back to find the men and a fight took place.

Rud also testified against Peterson Tuesday. He said he spent six to seven days in the hospital with a punctured lung after Peterson stabbed him during the altercation.

If convicted of the first-degree felony, Peterson could face up to 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

After the preliminary hearing, Peterson was ordered to have no contact with Luck as a condition of his bond. There are already no contact provisions for Rud and the two other men involved.

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