Man pleads no contest in attack on wife

An Evergreen man has entered a no-contest plea to charges of attacking his estranged wife in her sleep on June 24, 2004.

Alan Frank Combs, 36, was originally charged with attempted deliberate homicide and aggravated burglary. Last week, he pleaded no contest to aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon.

The event prompted a nationwide search for Combs, who fled after slashing his wife's wrist with a razor. She survived.

Combs reportedly called the Flathead County Sheriff's Office the next day from Filmore, Utah, saying he wanted to turn himself in. He was arrested there without incident.

Officials said Combs premeditated the attack at the home where his wife and children lived on Mountain View Drive in Evergreen.

Combs reportedly told the children to be in bed by 10 p.m. and not to sleep in the same room as his wife.

He reportedly told another person that his wife is a heavy sleeper and would not hear him come in, and it would be "the perfect thing to do."

Court documents say the woman awoke to find Combs in her bedroom at about 2 a.m. She said he "had cut her wrist and, when she tried to scream, the defendant told her to shut up or he would cut her throat." When a child entered the room, Combs fled.

He was scheduled for trial Friday but accepted a plea agreement instead.

He will be sentenced later.