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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Southern Oregon runners mourn the loss of their quirky, talented friend ... Ragsdale's body found above Lithia Park ... Low 2015 snowpack contributed to Crater Lake visitor surge ... Southern Oregon runners mourn the loss of their quirky, talented friend ... Ragsdale's body found above Lithia Park ... Low 2015 snowpack contributed to Crater Lake visitor surge ... ATTEMPTED ASSAULT Medford man swings ax at tenant, hits him in the nose with dart Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 28, 2016 at 3:01 PM Updated Jan 28, 2016 at 4:34 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 28, 2016 at 3:01 PM Updated Jan 28, 2016 at 4:34 PM » Social News A Medford man was sentenced to 30 days in jail after he took a swing at his tenant with an ax in a dispute over a woodstove. Michael Owen Bates, 55, of the 100 block of Eighth Street, pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted first-degree assault and menacing for the Jan. 8 attack. The electricity had been turned off in Bates' home and he became angry that his 45-year-old tenant had a woodstove in the tenant's portion of the house. Bates wanted the tenant to move out so he could have use of the woodstove, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. As part of his sentence, Bates will not be allowed to have contact with the victim after he is released from the Jackson County Jail. Bates must undertake eviction proceedings against the tenant — who still lives in the house — in order to resume living there. "You need to evict him formally, and an ax is not part of formal eviction proceedings," Jackson County Circuit Judge David Hoppe warned Bates during sentencing Thursday. According to an affidavit by Medford police, the attack involved a variety of objects, including the ax. Bates allegedly first threw a bicycle while confronting the victim, then threw a fire poker across the room at him but missed. He then allegedly walked outside, retrieved the ax, came back in and swung it at the tenant twice, missing him by a few feet and striking a wall, the affidavit said. Witnesses intervened and Bates began to depart. Before leaving, Bates allegedly grabbed four darts from a dart board and threw them at the tenant. "One struck him in the nose causing injury," the affidavit said. Bates was arrested and taken to Providence Medford Medical Center for clearance. He allegedly lunged at a police officer from a gurney and had to be taken to the ground. Several nurses assisted in subduing Bates and he was sedated, the affidavit said. Additional charges of resisting arrest and fourth-degree assault were dismissed in a plea arrangement. Bates was convicted of methamphetamine possession once in 2015 and twice in 2012, court records show. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 28, 2016 at 3:01 PM Updated Jan 28, 2016 at 4:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501