Harrington music teacher arrested, jailed

HARRINGTON - A local music teacher was arrested over the weekend and appeared in Lincoln County District Court Monday, July 31.

33-year-old Seth Michael Bergman of Harrington was arrested on charges of fourth-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief for allegedly slamming a door into his girlfriend multiple times and minorly injuring her forearm while breaking the door frame during an argument in a Harrington home Saturday, July 29, according to police records.

Bergman pleaded not guilty to both charges at an arraignment Monday.

His girlfriend said a no-contact order wasn't necessary, and one wasn't put in place by presiding judge Dan B. Johnson, according to District Court staff.

The two were arguing over the girlfriend's assertions to sell a guitar that once belonged to Bergman's mother, Theresa Bergman, according to police records.

Theresa Bergman was murdered by her husband and Seth Bergman's father, Charles Bergman, northwest of Sprague in Sept. 2022.

Seth Bergman was released from Lincoln County Jail Monday. A pre-trial court appearance was scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24.

The Harrington School District didn't immediately return a call for comment Monday.