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CLEARFIELD — A man accused of punching a woman during a New Year's Eve party, causing her to hit her head and subsequently die, made his first court appearance this week to face criminal charges.

Alcario Jesus Archuleta-Valdez, 32, of Clearifled, is charged with criminal homicide by assault, a third-degree felony.

About 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, Archuleta was invited to a small New Year's Eve party. Two of the four people present got into a fight. When that fight was ending, a woman walked toward Archuleta and he "turned around and punched the victim which caused the victim to fall and hit her head," according to charging documents.

Bobbie Jo Barnett, 35, of Ogden, died as a result of her head injury two days later on Jan. 3. She was a divorced mother of four children.

Clearfield Police Chief Mike Stenquist said at one point, all four occupants of the house were fighting.

After speaking with witnesses at the party, investigators believe Archuleta intended to hit Barnett and the attack was not a wayward punch or an accident, Stenquist said. The two had apparently known each other for a short time, he said, but the extent of their relationship was still being investigated Friday.

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Police seeking man charged with New Years death Police are looking for a man who they say caused a woman's death by punching her at a New Year's party.

A second person, a 34-year-old woman who owned the house where the party was held, was also injured. She told police she "blacked out" and believed she had been punched, the chief said. She was treated by paramedics for a head wound and a cut to her cheek.

Stenquist said it was unknown Friday who punched the homeowner.

Charges weren't filed against Archuleta until April 9. One problem for investigators was that Archuleta had given the three other women at the party a fake identity and none of them knew his real name, Stenquist said.

Another problem was that a lot of alcohol had been consumed at the party.

"They were all heavily intoxicated. That increased the difficulties of the initial investigation," he said.

Archuleta has been cooperating with police in the investigation.

"We've never had any problem contacting him," the chief said. On Wednesday, Archuleta waived his preliminary hearing. An arraignment is scheduled for May 5.

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