SANDPOINT - A Bonner County man accused of attacking his underage girlfriend in a series of beatings waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Eli Gunnar Zech is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct and three counts of attempted strangulation. He's further charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.

Zech, 24, is scheduled to be arraigned in 1st District Court on Aug. 17. He remains held at the Bonner County Jail with bail set at $40,000.

Zech is accused of attacking his 13-year-old girlfriend on July 3 after he discovered she had exchanged text messages with a 19-year-old male, according to court documents.

Zech allegedly attacked the teen as she slept while they were at a Sandpoint residence. They were kicked out of the residence and Zech allegedly choked her as he drove to his Sagle residence. The alleged attack continued at the residence, although she managed to flee into a wooded area and reach a neighbor's house.

While being held on the attempted strangulation and battery charges, Zech was charged with lewd conduct for carrying on a sexual relationship with the teen, court records indicate.