Assailant sentenced for breaking man's face

A Whitefish man has been given a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to felony criminal endangerment after an altercation on Central Avenue left one man with broken bones in his face.

Justin Maddock, 40, through a plea agreement entered a guilty plea in Flathead County District Court Sept. 13. Under the agreement, a previous charge of felony aggravated assault from the same incident was dropped.

According to court records, Whitefish Police responded to the Remington Bar on April 10 at 11:30 p.m. to a report of a fight on the street.

A group of people standing in front of the bar told officers a dark colored Subaru had crossed Central Avenue at Second Street at a high rate of speed and nearly struck two pedestrians. The driver, Maddock, parked the car and got out. The group confronted Maddock about his driving.

That’s when Maddock allegedly became hostile and started swinging his arms, according to witnesses. He then punched a man in the side of the face. Maddock then went into the Palace Bar and when he came out began challenging people outside the Remington.

The victim was transported to North Valley Hospital with several broken bones in his face. He required surgery for his injuries, and later identified Maddock as the person who allegedly punched him, records state.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors recommended a three-year suspended sentence to the Montana State Prison and restitution of $10,000 to the victim.

Maddock’s suspended sentence will run consecutively to his June 22 sentence of six months in jail, three months of house arrest and three years of probation on a federal conviction of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.