Woman gets five years suspended for stabbing

A 47-year-old Kalispell woman was given a five-year suspended sentence Thursday in Flathead District Court on a felony conviction for assault with a weapon.

Terry Saputra accepted the conviction as part of a plea deal that included the dismissal of a second felony charge of criminal endangerment.

On June 13, 2011, Saputra stabbed the father of her son with a set of keys at a house in Whitefish.

According to defense attorney Courtney Nolan, the victim was not asking for restitution since he was aware of her financial situation and believed the incident to be related to Saputra’s mental health issues. Saputra is not allowed to work and receives disability payments due to those issues, for which she is currently receiving treatment.

Despite Nolan’s statements, District Judge Ted Lympus ordered Saputra to pay the man’s $15,810.48 in medical bills related to the incident.

He suspended a $1,000 fine as well as a public defender fee.