Man charged in shooting spree takes plea agreement

A Somers man who was arrested following a shooting spree outside his home last February accepted a plea agreement on Thursday.

Christopher Michael Cassidy, 42, was originally charged with criminal endangerment and criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs. He pleaded no contest to criminal endangerment. The second charge was dismissed.

Cassidy will have a March 13 hearing on aggravation and mitigation of his sentence.

Shortly after midnight on Feb. 9, 2013, Flathead County deputies responded to the 300 block of Somers Road. Officers saw a man, later identified as Cassidy, standing on the front porch with a rifle. The officers saw Cassidy fire shots in the direction of an electrical substation, which was 100 yards behind the officers, according to court records.

Cassidy was seen repeatedly entering and exiting the residence and firing shots in an erratic fashion. The shots seemed to hit the substation, according to a court affidavit, and were fired with a high-powered rifle, a smaller caliber rifle and a handgun.

Officers arrested Cassidy when he exited the home after tear gas was inserted into the home.

When officers entered the residence they found two handguns and two rifles, court records state.

Some 86 marijuana plants were found in the basement of the home, according to a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Bigfork security cameras

Drew Hollinger posted a $5,000 bond Jan. 15 in a case stemming from $3,755 in damage to security cameras in downtown Bigfork last summer.

Hollinger was arraigned Jan. 14. He is charged with criminal mischief.

Two security cameras were damaged in the early hours of Sept. 1. A video captured a man and woman on scene. One image showed a man’s fist.

The Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork sent a letter to the sheriff’s office Sept. 18 detailing damages.

There is a motion pending with a judge to remand the case to the justice court.

Ferndale beating

A Somers man has pleaded not guilty to a pair of amended charges for his alleged involvement in the July 4, 2013, beating of a man at the Ferndale Market.

Gaige Mower, 20, entered the not guilty pleas Thursday in Flathead District Court to charges of felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor assault. He originally was charged with felony aggravated assault.

Mower and 19-year-old Kalispell residents Andrew Nelson and Ryan Horn assaulted Antonio Valencia following a road rage incident, with Mower and Horn each physically engaging Valencia and Nelson striking him with a golf club until it broke, court records said.

If convicted of his charges, Mower faces up to six months in the Flathead County Detention Center, up to 10 years in the Montana State Prison and a fine of up to $50,500. His next hearing is set for March 5.

Nelson was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon for his involvement, while Horn was charged with felony aggravated assault.

Horn later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault for shoving Valencia down to get him out of the way of Nelson’s golf club. He was determined to have been trying to protect Valencia, but agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge since he could have grabbed Nelson instead to stop him or pulled him away from Valencia. Because his actions did not lead to any of Valencia’s injuries, Horn was not required to pay any restitution.

Nelson has pleaded guilty to felony assault with a weapon in exchange for dismissal of a felony aggravated assault charge. He was released on his own recognizance Jan. 15 and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 13.