Man facing felony charges for partially blinding brother with rock
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POCATELLO – A Bannock County man is facing felony charges after a witness said he threw a rock that struck his brother in the face and partially blinded him.
Jason Douglas Hough, 27, is charged with felony aggravated battery, for alleged use of a deadly weapon — a rock — to cause permanent disability.
Police reports show, officers responded to Portneuf Medical Center in the early morning hours of Sept. 12 after a member of the nursing staff reported a male victim had been assaulted by another male.
According to an incident report submitted by the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Gloria Street in Pocatello. A female witness told investigating officers the victim, Russell Hough and his brother Jason Hough had an argument over a borrowed car over the phone.
When Jason Hough showed up at the Gloria Street residence, Russell Hough went outside to meet his brother and retrieve the keys.
The witness reported that she heard the brothers arguing in person and then saw an injured Russell Hough stumbling. He told her that Jason Hough had hit him in the face. Jason Hough fled the scene on foot and Russell Hough said he did not know what his brother had struck him with.
Officers located a wooden club inside the vehicle and the female found a decorative rock that normally rested in the front yard of the residence leading from a trail of blood in the parking lot.
Police reports show, Russell Hough sustained a concussion, a fractured nasal bone and a detached retina during the encounter. Whether or not Russell will lose his eye is still undetermined.
The hospital staff reported that he will required plastic surgery to repair the damage and it is unclear if he will regain full sight in his eye.
Officers located Jason Hough at a residence on Franklin Street following the incident. He said he believed his brother intended to assault him and that he had thrown a key chain attached to a carabiner at his brother.
Jason Hough was arrested at the Franklin Street residence and a $5,000 bond was set in the case. He remains incarcerated at the Bannock County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.
According to police reports, Jason Hough inquired about his brother’s condition several times following his arrest.
Bannock County Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Graham could not be reached for comment Friday.
Jason Hough has no prior criminal history in Idaho.