Assault Charges

A 44-year-old Bemidji woman is facing felony assault charges after allegedly attacking another woman with broken glass Monday night. Jessica  McLean was charged with third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm and misdemeanor obstruction of legal process, according to court documents filed in Beltrami County District Court. Bemidji police responded to the 800 block of America Ave. NW around 9:30 p.m. Monday after receiving reports that McLean had broken a mirror and attempted to cut people with the broken glass. Officers found a woman with a large laceration over her left eye that was bleeding profusely. The victim told police McLean hit her with something, but she wasn’t sure what because the room was dark. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police located McLean shortly after and found a broken mirror near her belongings. McLean told officers another woman came at her, so she threw the woman to the ground in self-defense. Officers noted McLean was not speaking in complete or coherent sentences. Court records show McLean has an extensive criminal history with 11 prior convictions dating back to 2013. Her previous convictions include felony domestic assault, felony threats of violence, felony property damage, multiple assault charges, DWI, trespassing and obstructing legal process. The third-degree assault charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. The obstruction charge carries up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. The case remains under investigation by the Bemidji Police Department.