The trial of a Denver-based social media influencer kicked off in Summit County court Tuesday, Jan. 14, with opening arguments from the defense and prosecution followed by testimony from the first witness.

David Lesh, 39, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree assault by strangulation, a Class 4 felony, and third degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under Colorado law, a conviction on second degree assault by strangulation charges carries a sentence of between two to eight years in prison as the presumptive range, according to the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Lesh, a retired pro skier and the founder of a clothing brand, is notorious for provocative stunts and social media posts. The assault charges stem from a fight between Lesh and another man that occurred during a snowmobiling outing at Spring Creek trailhead in Summit County on March 25, 2023, according to court documents.

In opening arguments Tuesday, deputy district attorney Lauren Crisera said the two men had prior disagreements but Lesh “brutally attacked and strangled” the other man, even though there had been no prior threats or physical violence.

Video from the other man’s GoPro camera will show Lesh launching himself off his snowmobile at the other man to begin the fight, Crisera said. During the fight, Lesh twice applied pressure to the man’s neck, even as he tried to “tap out,” she said.

“This isn’t a case of self defense,” Crisera said.

But in opening arguments, Lesh’s defense attorney, Colleen Kelley, said Lesh attempted multiple times to stop the fight, saying “chill” and “are you done yet?” Kelley said Lesh acted out of self defense because he knew the other man to be a “hothead” prone to “erratic, irrational and angry outbursts.”

Kelley said Lesh heard through friends that the other man said he wanted to “beat up” Lesh and that the man confronted Lesh at the trailhead that day and threatened to follow him into the backcountry.

During opening arguments, Kelley played a brief video clip from an encounter about two weeks before the fight where the other man can be heard shouting expletives at Lesh.

“How many times does a person need to threaten you before you believe them?” Kelley said. “This is a case about self defense.”

The first witness called by the prosecution was another snowmobiler who was part of the group that met at the trailhead that day. The man testified that he didn’t know Lesh or the other man involved in the fight prior to the incident and hasn’t talked to either since.

The acquaintance testified that he remembered Lesh yelling something about not wanting to ride in a group with the other man, and the other man replying something along the lines of “I can ride with whoever I want.”

He testified that he then witnessed a tussle ensue with “David initiating it by jumping on” the other man.

The acquaintance testified that he did not specifically see Lesh place the other man in a chokehold but that he saw Lesh’s arm around his neck. He said he drove away on his snowmobile while the fight was still in progress.

Lesh’s trial is expected to continue through Friday. Jury selection for the trial began Monday morning and wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.