Prosecutors filed charges on Monday alleging a Casper woman assaulted a man with a knife.

Barbara Ann Thiele, 54, faces two aggravated assault charges. Each charge carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Thiele was initially booked on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, but prosecutors ultimately decided to file the less-serious charges.

"After our review of the evidence, we felt this was the most appropriate charge," Natrona County District Attorney Michael Blonigen said Tuesday.

The two counts of aggravated assault represent alternative theories of the same alleged crime, which authorities believe took place Monday and involved the use of a knife, Blonigen said. He declined to comment on the relationship between Thiele and the alleged victim, whom Blonigen identified only as a Casper man.

Blonigen referred other questions about the incident to Thiele's court file. However, the file was under seal at Natrona County Circuit Court.

Thiele made her initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon, where a judge set bond at $7,500.

Thiele's daughter, Erika Elvidge, said her mother isn't a violent person and had no past criminal history beyond traffic tickets.

"She did what she did to protect her family," Elvidge said.

Elvidge said her mother is physically disabled and suffers from a number of medical conditions, including heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema.

"She's a wonderful person," Elvidge said. "She has taken in every stray she can find."

More information about the case could be made public at Thiele's preliminary hearing, which Blonigen expected would take place next week. At such hearings, a judge decides whether there is enough evidence for the case to move on to Natrona County District Court. Defendants have the right to waive preliminary hearings.

Police records show Thiele was arrested at a home on the 500 block of South McKinley Street on Monday. That afternoon, a man was treated for a stabbing incident on the same block, according to police.

The man's wounds were not life-threatening, said Casper police Sgt. Mark Trimble.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.