OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – An Oshkosh man that punched another man over a minor cash dispute and faces one count of aggravated battery pleaded not guilty on Thursday.
34-year-old Christopher Barry allegedly punching Steven Mallas once on October 7 following a dispute over $18 and Mallas died five days later from the blow to the face.
According to the Clerk of Courts office, the trial has been scheduled for February 5.
A friend of Mallas’s followed him out of the Boot’s Saloon early on October 7 after a claim surfaced that Mallas took $18 from the bar owner’s brother, according to the complaint.
The complaint states that as Mallas and his friend were walking down the street “Barry drove a white van up to the middle of the street, got out, walked past her, and punched Mallas in the face.”
The complaint goes on to state “After Barry punched Mallas, Mallas fell to the ground and then Mallas pulled out his wallet and gave it to her stated that he didn’t have the money taken from the bar. (The friend) stated that she looked in the wallet and saw $4 so she took it and gave it back to the bar owner’s brother.”
An officer noticed dried blood on Barry’s fingers, but he denied being in a fight with anyone, according to the complaint.
The complaint also states that Mallas suffered a broken jaw that had to be wired shut.
According to the complaint, “Mallas suffered from edema into his chest area and he had bronchial pneumonia. Detective Petit reports that Dr. Kelley stated that there was also swelling and infection due to the broken jaw. Dr. Kelley stated that pending toxicology, Mallas’ death stems from the broken jaw.”
