Local Spokane actor pleads guilty to beating girlfriend with baseball bat

A local actor accused of beating his girlfriend repeatedly with a baseball bat pleaded guilty to second-degree assault Thursday morning in Spokane Superior Court on Thursday.

Dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, his graying hair pulled back into a ponytail, Jeremy Lindholm faced Judge Annette Plese and apologized to the court for the crime.

“I deeply regret the incident,” he said softly. “I truly desire to get into rehabilitation and into therapy that I so obviously need.”

Lindholm, 41, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment-domestic violence. As part of a plea deal, he admitted to the lesser charge of second-degree assault.

The plea comes with a sentence of eight months in jail, with credit for time served, and 12 months community custody.

Police arrested Lindholm on Aug. 16 after he fled 420 Lingerie boutique at 3813 N. Division St. with a baseball bat in his hand. A surveillance camera inside the business captured the assault on video, which shows Lindholm striking the woman in the head and on her body with the bat more than a dozen times, according to court documents.

The video also shows Lindholm choking the woman, flinging her to the ground, and jumping on her with his knees. During the assault, Lindholm said he wanted to kill her, the woman told police.

Lindholm told officers after the assault he was upset because his girlfriend did not go to a store and get him some Kool-Aid before she went to work at the boutique, according to court records. Lindholm told police that his original plan was not to hurt his girlfriend but to force police to shoot him in front of her.

The woman was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

In court as witnesses were Lindholm’s family and his girlfriend, who asked Judge Plese to drop a no-contact order that forbade the two from speaking. She told the courtroom she would still like to see him get mental health treatment, but said she was not in danger.

“I have no fears of any retaliation at all, your honor,” she said. “That’s all I have to say.”

There on behalf of the accused was his sister, who said Lindholm was struggling financially leading up to his arrest. She said a “mental breakdown” was to blame for his rash behavior, especially since he has no criminal history.

“My brother is really an asset to this community,” she said. “He is known with the film circle and friends as a gentle giant.”

The 41-year-old actor was a regular background presence in Syfy’s “Z Nation,” often playing zombies. He recently appeared in an episode of Showtime’s “Twin Peaks,” where he had a notable speaking role. He was also a regular in local movies and TV commercials shot in Spokane.

In learning of the allegations against Lindholm, “Z Nation” producer Steve Graham said in August he was “shocked.”

“Jeremy has been very active in the film community here,” he said. “We really only know him by his work and he’s done good work for us.”

The producer said Thursday that Lindholm would not be appearing in future episodes of “Z Nation.”

Judge Plese agreed to the terms of the plea deal struck by the defense and prosecution, but kept the no-contact order active for one year. She told Lindholm if he’s rehabilitated after a few months, he can file a motion to have it dropped.

“Looking at this affidavit, it scares the court,” she said. “The court would like you to get on track before you have contact.”