Woman pleads innocent to beating son

The Daily Inter Lake

A Columbia Falls woman pleaded innocent Thursday to allegedly beating her teenage son.

Bobbie Lee Briscoe, 36, entered not-guilty pleas to one count of assault with a weapon and one count of assault on a minor, both felonies, during her arraignment in Flathead County District Court.

Prosecutors allege Briscoe had a friend construct a wooden paddle specifically for the purpose of spanking the 13-year-old boy.

She was arrested and booked into the Flathead County Detention Center in late October, but later was released after posting $20,000 bond.

According to court records, the boy told investigators that on Oct. 2 his mother hit him so many times with the paddle he couldn't sit for up to two hours afterwards.

The boy said he had been hit too many times to count. Investigators observed extensive bruising on the boy's back side and thighs.

Court documents do not reveal what prompted the alleged beating or whether such beatings were an ongoing occurrence.

When investigators asked about the paddle, they were told Briscoe had burned it.

If convicted, Briscoe faces up to 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.