C-Falls man charged with waving knife at family

A 25-year-old Columbia Falls man has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assault with a weapon and bailjumping. Two additional charges of felony assault with a weapon were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

Derek Willcut Jr. had faced up to 20 years and a $50,000 fine for each of the assault charges.

According to court records, the case arose Sept. 14, 2015, after a woman, her fiancé and his daughter were reportedly harassed by a man driving an older model green Chevy Tahoe.

The man allegedly threatened them with a large knife while they drove down Whalebone Drive in Kalispell and again after following them to the junction of Meridian Road and U.S. 2. They took down the license plate number and called the police.

Willcut was tracked down, arrested and then released without bond. When he didn’t show up for his arraignment on Nov. 6, Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison ordered him held on a $50,000 bond that was later reduced to $25,000.

In the Feb. 12 plea deal, the state offered to recommend a six-year deferred sentence for one of the assault charges and six months in the county jail, concurrent and suspended, for the misdemeanor bailjumping charge.

Allison accepted the plea deal on March 5. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28.