Warrant planned for no-show shooter

A Hungry Horse man convicted of shooting a woman during a dispute over a debt failed to appear Thursday for a sentencing hearing in Flathead County District Court.

Jeremiah Rupert pleaded no contest in May to two counts of assault with a weapon after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. He was scheduled to appear before Judge Ted Lympus, who has the authority to decide whether or not to honor the deal.

The agreement would send Rupert to prison for five years.

Now he’ll likely face an additional charge of felony bail jumping.

The Flathead County Attorney’s Office also could choose to eliminate the plea agreement altogether, though Office Administrator Vickie Eggum said she doesn’t know if prosecutors will do so.

A bench warrant for his arrest was being processed Friday.

Rupert allegedly shot Lisa Wetherelt in the neck and upper arm on Sept. 19, 2009, while attempting to shoot Adam Chapman after Chapman refused to give him $100.

Rupert has also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of negligent endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs stemming from a separate incident during which he and two other men launched artillery-shell fireworks at a squad car on patrol during the 2009 Fourth of July celebration in Hungry Horse.

Prosecutors had agreed to dismiss felony charges of attempted deliberate homicide and possession of dangerous drugs, and misdemeanor counts of possession of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.