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Sentencing set for man charged with felony assault with weapon

by SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER
Hagadone News Network | March 6, 2020 2:00 AM

A Kalispell man accused of shooting at a trio of people last fall is scheduled to be sentenced next week in Flathead District Court.

Austen Christopher Lee Newton, 23, will appear in front of District Judge Amy Eddy at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 12.

According to court documents, Newton has agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts of assault with a weapon and one count of criminal endangerment.

Both the prosecution and defense are jointly recommending Newton receive a 10-year sentence with five years suspended to the Department of Corrections.

Charging documents filed by the Flathead County Attorney’s Office report that a woman called 911 at 12:31 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, to report her ex-boyfriend had fired a gun at her.

When a deputy from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a North Cedar Drive residence, the female victim said Newton arrived at the home and wanted to fight another man who lived in the house.

The man refused to fight Newton and then the accused became upset and fired a handgun at her and a friend. The victim said they ducked behind her car when he fired the gun.

The deputy saw several bullet holes in the victim’s car, several spent shell casings on the ground and one bullet hole in the residence.