A husband accused of the attempted murder of his wife pled not guilty Friday to several charges, including mayhem and child abuse, in a case that detectives called “one of the worst domestic violence assaults they have seen.”

David Charles, 58, of Canyon Country, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count each of: injuring a spouse; mayhem; child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily injury or death; assault with a deadly weapon, a car; and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, according to Ricardo Santiago, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

See Related: Attempted Murder Charges Filed After Canyon Country Domestic Violence Incident

For those unfamiliar with a mayhem charge, the term is defined in California Penal Code 203 PC as the act of unlawfully or maliciously doing any of the following to another person:

• Depriving him/her of a member of his/her body (such as a limb)
• Disabling, disfiguring or rendering useless a member of his/her body
• Cutting or disabling his/her tongue
• Putting out his/her eye
• Slitting his/her nose, ear or lip

“The charges are in relation to a domestic violence case,” said Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Charles was reportedly arrested on Sept. 9 for attempted murder, but was later booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station after being treated at a local hospital for injuries, according to Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the station.

On Sept. 2, deputies responded to the 30500 block of Jasmine Valley Road in Canyon Country regarding a domestic violence call, according to Sheriff’s officials.

Upon deputies’ arrival, they found the victim, a female adult in her 50’s, severely injured and unable to speak. The suspect, the victim’s husband, had fled the location.

The victim was transported to the hospital by paramedics, according to Miller.

Through their investigation, detectives determined that the victim had been “viciously attacked,” Miller said.

“It appeared that the victim’s head was possibly smashed against a wall multiple times,” Miller said. “Detectives commented that it was ‘one of the worst domestic violence assaults’ they have seen.”

The suspect was charged with the attempted murder of his wife. When the suspect fled from this crime, he allegedly committed several other crimes that occurred on the 14 Freeway in Canyon Country, according to Miller.

See Related: Child Cruelty Charges Expected After Man Causes Wrong-Way Crash On 14 Freeway With Son In Vehicle

After the incident, Charles allegedly failed to yield to law enforcement while driving, reportedly causing multiple crashes, including one with his son inside the vehicle, according to Eric Priessman, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol Newhall Area Office.

Charles reportedly entered the southbound 14 Freeway from Sand Canyon Road going north, which resulted in a multi-vehicle traffic collision around 5:30 p.m., according to CHP officials.

After the crash occurred, the suspect reportedly fled the scene on foot with his son and ran across the northbound lanes and down onto Soledad Canyon Road, Priessman said.

The suspect allegedly attempted to carjack someone, but was struck by the vehicle, resulting in the suspect sustaining a compound femur fracture, according to Priessman.

Two patients, including Charles, were transported to the hospital, said Melanie Flores, a dispatch supervisor for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, at the time of the crash.

He remained in the hospital until he was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station in lieu of $2.1 million bail.

Charles is set to return to court on Oct. 18 for a preliminary setting.

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