Murder suspect pleads innocent

A man accused of killing his father and brother and then holding six people hostage pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Flathead County District Court.

However, his attorney reserved the right to amend that plea pending a mental health evaluation.

Justin Ray Calbick, 30, of Creston is accused of shooting his father and brother to death, then entering a house a half a mile away where he allegedly forced his estranged wife to bind her father and her friend with duct tape before he bound her, then held them at gunpoint.

Calbick pleaded not guilty to two counts of deliberate homicide for the Jan. 27 shooting deaths of 60-year-old Donald Calbick and 38-year-old Stacey Calbick.

He also pleaded not guilty to other charges pending against him, including sexual intercourse without consent, partner or family member assault, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon. All except the partner or family member assault charge are felonies.

District Judge Stewart Stadler set an omnibus hearing date of April 14, with trial set to start June 7.

According to court documents, Calbick admitted to the double homicide during questioning.

The bodies of Donald and Stacey Calbick were found Jan. 28 in Donald Calbick’s Mennonite Church Road home. Each man apparently died from a single gunshot to the head. 

Authorities believe the fatal shootings occurred sometime before the alleged kidnapping situation the night of Jan. 27.

Around 9:30 p.m. that night, Justin Calbick allegedly entered the home of his estranged wife, pointed a .22-caliber rifle at her and told her to tie up her father and her friend with duct tape, then bound her. Three young children, who were not bound, also were in the house at the time.

For three hours, the kidnapping victims endured threats and intimidation from Justin Calbick, who kept the gun on them, according to victim statements.

The friend eventually persuaded Justin Calbick to let her go after promising not to contact authorities. She also talked him into giving her the rifle. She was freed and returned home with the rifle just before 1 a.m.

Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies later arrested Justin Calbick without incident.

At the time of the alleged kidnapping, Justin Calbick’s wife had an order of protection against him that had been in place since Jan. 12.

Justice of the Peace David Ortley saw Justin Calbick at his initial appearance on Jan. 19 on sexual intercourse without consent charges stemming from an incident earlier in January. Ortley released him on informal house arrest to his father’s care.

Calbick was released with the conditions that he comply with the order of protection, not possess firearms and follow through on medication and treatment prescribed by Pathways Treatment Center.

Ortley said Calbick’s overall demeanor at the hearing didn’t raise a red flag.

“I saw nothing that led me to conclude he was a danger to himself and others,” Ortley said Thursday. “I’m the last person who would ever release someone I thought was a danger to himself or others.”

Ortley said Donald Calbick and Stacey Calbick waited in the lobby for most of the day for Justin Calbick’s initial appearance. Ortley said he and Donald Calbick went over the conditions of Justin Calbick’s release. Ortley said he thought conditions could be set to ensure the safety of the victim.

“I made the decision based on the information in front of me,” Ortley said.

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com