Aspen knife assault suspect misses court-ordered alcohol tests

An Aspen man accused of attempting to stab multiple other men downtown last year missed five court-ordered alcohol tests, Judge Laura Makar said in court proceedings on Monday. 

The attorney representing Reese M. Castiglioni — who allegedly attempted to stab three men in the early hours of Sept. 27, 2025, and is accused of cutting one — told the court that his client had moved to Nantucket, Mass., following the incident. Because of this, Castiglioni was unable to access an alcohol testing facility, his attorney said.

“When he did call in for his first test and then scheduled a test at the testing facility that he had found, it turned out that that was a medical-only testing facility,” Defense Attorney Don Nottingham said. “And Nantucket’s on an island.”

Nottingham added that he didn’t believe 9th Judicial District Court, where Castiglioni is attending court proceedings regarding the alleged knife assault, had officially ordered the alcohol tests. Rather, the tests were ordered in a domestic violence case involving Castiglioni in Pitkin County Court, according to Nottingham.

Despite the missed tests, Nottingham said his client has been sober since the Sept. 27 knife assault allegations. 

“He’s 128 days sober,” Nottingham said. “He attends about three AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or Dharma Recovery meetings a week.” 

Nottingham added that Castiglioni is in a difficult position to test, as currently holds a job on the island. 

“He’s in a tough position, where he can either quit his job … and then move, try to get another job, upend his life,” Nottingham said. “Or do what he’s doing now, which is still trying to get in compliance in terms of testing.”

Castiglioni in the past few days was cleared by the Nantucket Police Department to submit a breathalyzer test, rather than the urine test to which he was previously restricted, according to Nottingham. 

He added that “in terms of life,” Castiglioni has recently made “impressive and important changes.”

“Obviously, I understand the court’s concern that he hasn’t been able to prove to the court via testing that he has made those changes,” Nottingham said. “But he’s still working on it.”

Castiglioni finds himself in court after, on the night of the incident, a 46-year-old, 32-year-old, and 30-year-old flagged down Aspen Police around 2:29 a.m., according to a police affidavit. They had also been accompanied by a fourth man, who was 35.

The men told police that they had been waiting for a taxi when Castiglioni allegedly approached them “without prompt,” before pulling out a fixed blade and swinging it at them. The men said they fought back, grabbing Castiglioni by the arms. During the altercation, Castiglioni allegedly cut one of the men along the forearm. At one point, one of the men punched and kicked Castiglioni in an attempt to get him to drop the knife, they said.

As police were arriving, Castiglioni allegedly threatened to shoot the men. At the scene, police said they smelled alcohol on Castiglioni’s breath and found a gun in his pocket when searching him. 

Castiglioni was charged with 2nd Degree Assault, a Class 4 Felony, four counts of felony menacing, resisting arrest, falsely reporting his identification to law enforcement — he allegedly first told police his name was Michael Smith — and violating a protection order filed against him. 

He will next appear in court on March 16.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.