Arrest made in attack that required man's scalp to be reattached

MOON LAKE -- First came a punch to the face, and then a wooden board to the head, blow after blow, and out came a pocket knife, piercing the man's leg and forearm, severing part of his ear.

By the time the beating was done Aug. 24, according to a sheriff's report, Richard Bernhardt had lost seven teeth and sustained several puncture wounds. His skull was visible. He needed 21 stitches to reattach his scalp.

The attacker, according to authorities: Kraig Richard Constantino, 38, above left, who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 200 pounds and lives at 12025 Smokey Lake Loop. He was arrested Thursday afternoon, charged with attempted murder and held without bail Friday in the Land O'Lakes jail.

The motive:

"I'm going to kill you," Constantino told Bernhardt, while brandishing the board, according to the report, "for thinking about sleeping with my girlfriend."

--Thomas Lake, Times Staff Writer