Man convicted in shooting incident

A Hungry Horse man has been convicted of a shooting that left one woman injured after an argument about money escalated into gunfire.

During a hearing Thursday morning in Flathead County District Court, Jeremiah Rupert, 20, pleaded no contest to two felony charges of assault with a weapon.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted deliberate homicide, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

During brief testimony Thursday, Rupert admitted to feeling remorse for shooting 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 pleaded no contest “in order to protect him civilly,” according to Rupert’s defense attorney Sean Hinchey, because the plea cannot be used in a civil lawsuit as an admission of fault.

However, a no contest plea has the same practical effect as a guilty plea.

According to court records, Rupert and Chapman argued after Rupert demanded the money and threatened to shoot, pulling a pistol on Chapman as the two sat in their trucks parked next to each other across from Canyon Elementary School in Hungry Horse.

Seeing the gun, Chapman ducked, put the car in gear and attempted to flee, hearing a gunshot as he peeled away. As he drove from the scene, he noticed his passenger had been hit and saw the gunshot holes in the back window and windshield of his truck.

Chapman would have been hit if he had not ducked, investigating officers stated in court documents.

At the time of the shooting, Rupert had a small amount of methamphetamine and a meth pipe on him, as well as a small amount of marijuana and two marijuana pipes.

During Thursday’s hearing, Rupert 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.

Approximately 15 of the shells hit within the squad car’s vicinity, according to court records.

Rupert admitted he possessed marijuana at the time.

Also pursuant to a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped additional counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and alcohol possession.

Rupert’s sentencing hearing for both crimes is set for July 22.

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