Fresh out of jail, man charged with stabbing

A man who was released from jail Thursday, awaiting sentencing, was arrested hours later for allegedly going to the home of his assault victim and stabbing a man there.

Robert Daniels, 35, was first charged with rape, aggravated burglary and witnesses tampering. He was accused of entering a woman's home on Dec. 30, 2005. He reportedly hit her in the mouth, dragged her by the hair and forced her to have sex.

After the assault, the woman found Daniels' wallet in her house. He reportedly called and threatened her several times, demanding his wallet back.

Deputy County Attorney Dan Guzynski said the woman later decided not to cooperate with prosecutors. She said she wanted the case dismissed and would not testify.

"Unless people are willing to take the stand and testify, there's very little we can do about it," he said.

Guzynski said prosecutors have subpoena powers and can force people to testify, but given the victim's reluctance, he agreed to a plea agreement with Daniels.

In it, Daniels pleaded guilty to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor sexual assault. He was released Thursday from jail, where he had been held on $500,000 bond, under certain conditions.

Among them were that he was to go to Texas, to have no contact with the victim, and to return for sentencing on April 20.

But less than 12 hours later, Daniels went to the woman's home at 2 a.m. Friday. He allegedly threatened to kill the woman and a man who was there. A sheriff's deputy's report says that Daniels stabbed the man once in the abdomen and twice in the leg. The man went by ambulance to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Daniels was returned to jail, initially charged with assault with a weapon, violation of a protective order, stalking and burglary.

"Given the circumstances of this case, the state will be seeking a significant prison term for Mr. Daniels," Guzynski said.