Poulsbo man charged after alleged bat attack

Anthony Rinonos of Poulsbo has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking two men with a baseball bat May 24.

The incident report collected by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office states that Rinonos, 31, attacked his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend and another man after the girlfriend allegedly lured the ex to Rinonos’s home under the guise of talking.

The ex alleged that the girlfriend had been cheating on him and told deputies that he had used Snapchat to confirm his suspicions and confront the girlfriend. Rinonos and the ex-boyfriend had also exchanged words over the phone, then Rinonos allegedly challenged the ex to a fight. The ex and another man arrived at Rinonos’s home near Port Gamble Road for the proposed talk/fight.

The other man alleged to deputies that when they arrived and the ex got out of the car he saw Rinonos come out swinging a black metal bat, and he hit the ex-boyfriend in the head. The victim stated he told Rinonos to stop, and that was when Rinonos went after him. The man was able to defend himself, and eventually get the ex in the car and back home where his wife had them transported to area hospitals.

The ex-boyfriend, who the other victim told deputies had been hit in the head at least three more times by Rinonos, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma, where doctors said he sustained a skull fracture and brain bleed among other serious injuries. The other victim was taken to St. Michael’s Hospital in Silverdale, where he was diagnosed with a fractured shoulder among other injuries.

Rinonos also allegedly attacked the other man’s car, smashing the driver’s side headlight and hood as they fled from the home.

Rinonos is facing $50,000 bail in addition to first-degree assault charges.