MARSHALL — A motion to dismiss assault charges against a Marshall business owner was denied by a Lyon County District Court judge last week. Court documents said a plea hearing for Gregory Taylor, 77, will be held Nov. 18.

Taylor, is charged with second degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and making terroristic threats. A criminal complaint alleges that Taylor grabbed a handgun during a dispute with a man in Marshall in April.

The man, a tenant at a rental property owned by Taylor, had requested to vacate his apartment and asked for a copy of his lease agreement, the complaint alleged. The complaint alleged that Taylor told the man to leave, and grabbed a handgun.

In a statement to police, Taylor said the man had hesitated to sign a vacancy agreement, and later refused to leave the office until he got a copy of his lease, the complaint alleged. Taylor said he took a pistol down from a shelf and placed it in his back pocket, the complaint alleged.

At an Oct. 7 hearing, Taylor’s attorney said Taylor intended to claim he acted in self-defense and with a reasonable use of force. The attorney also argued that there was not enough evidence for the criminal charges against Taylor. District Court Judge Tricia Zimmer said she would consider the matter, before giving a written decision.

In an Oct. 29 ruling, Zimmer said the question of whether Taylor acted in self-defense was a question for a jury to decide, and not the court. There was probable cause for both the assault and terroristic threat charges, Zimmer said.

Zimmer denied a motion to dismiss the charges against Taylor, and said a plea hearing would be held Nov. 18.