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Dunning to face trial in Ridge beating

The man accused in the brutal beating of 28-year-old Austin Ridge, was bound over for trial Wednesday during a preliminary hearing in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Logan Keith Dunning, 22, of Sonoma, faces a trial on charges of attempted first-degree murder, mayhem, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, not a firearm.

In addition to the charges in the Ridge beating, Dunning is also facing arson charges for a series of vehicle fires in Santa Rosa on April 1.

Dunning is currently in jail on $1,060,000 bail. His next court appearance is set for Nov. 27, for information to be filed.

In Sonoma County, Dunning has two burglary convictions in addition to convictions for obstructing a peace officer, battery on a person and possession of a deadly weapon. Dunning was already in jail on the arson charges when he was arrested in connection with the Ridge beating.

Ridge, who was already partially disabled as the result of an auto accident in Oregon in 2004, spent a month in the hospital after the attack.

Ridge was attacked on his way home from the Old Sonoma Public House the night of April 25, and was found at 4:30 a.m., lying in the 18000 block of Lucas Avenue by a newspaper delivery person. He was severely beaten, had stab wounds, and had to undergo emergency surgery to treat bleeding on his brain. He had no memory of the attack and his recovery was slowed when he contracted meningitis.