Man pleads innocent for alleged role in river incident

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man has pleaded innocent to threatening to beat up a man who owed him money and then forcing him into the cold water of the Flathead River.

During a hearing Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Mark Robert Irvine, 45, pleaded not guilty to robbery and assault with a weapon, both felonies, in connection with the November 2008 incident.

According to court documents, Irvine, 18-year-old Brandon Christopher Sands and two other men brought the alleged victim to the Presentine Bar area of the Flathead River and then robbed him of $30.

Irvine and the alleged victim reportedly were in a dispute over $60 in unpaid rent.

After taking his money, Irvine allegedly pulled out an aluminum baseball bat and threatened to beat the man unless he waded into the river, prosecutors allege.

Sands pleaded innocent last month to one count of accountability to robbery.

If convicted of all charges, Irvine - who is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center - could face more than 60 years in prison while Sands could receive a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

At the time of the incident, Irvine was serving a 10-year probationary sentence for burglary. He had been convicted of stealing property from a neighbor and was ordered to pay more than $40,000 in restitution.

As part of his plea bargain with Flathead County prosecutors, Irvine agreed not to enter Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse or West Glacier.

Irvine last was arrested in July 2008 after officers shot his pit bull. Irvine alleges the shooting was unprovoked. Officers said the dog was charging them.