SANDPOINT — A Spirit Lake man is facing a felony battery charge for allegedly pouring boiling water over another man as he slept.

Brandon Frank Hankey made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Monday, although his bail and legal counsel was not contained in public court documents.

Hankey, 27, became the subject of a $500,000 arrest warrant after the alleged attack at the Mount Baldy apartment complex in Ponderay on April 24. The alleged victim, 30, suffered first- and second-degree burns on his chest, arms and back, a Bonner General Health emergency room doctor told Ponderay Police.

The alleged victim said he had a disagreement with Hankey the night before, although the nature of the dispute is not specified in court documents.

Hankey is charged with aggravated battery. Bonner County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank alleges in the criminal complaint that Hankey perpetrated a violent injury on the alleged victim by means likely to produced great bodily harm.

Hankey was originally charged with aggravated assault, although the complaint was amended to aggravated battery, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for today, May 29.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.