Candidate pleads innocent in assault case

(Sallisaw-AP) -- Congressional candidate Mark Detro pleaded innocent today to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.<br><br>His attorney says a trial is not expected until fall.<br><br>Detro

Thursday, May 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Sallisaw-AP) -- Congressional candidate Mark Detro pleaded innocent today to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

His attorney says a trial is not expected until fall.

Detro is vying for the Republican nomination for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Representative Tom Coburn.

Prosecutors allege Detro took the law into his own hands January 29th when he found Billy Gibson Junior in a hotel room and hit him on the head with a metal pipe.

Detro is owner of the Sallisaw Inn, where the confrontation took place.

Gibson has been charged with a misdemeanor count of breaking and entering.