Stabbing suspect to be evaluated

The 19-year-old Kalispell man who allegedly entered a home on Fifth Avenue East and stabbed the owner will have a mental health evaluation before entering a plea to felony charges.

Dante Kier's arraignment was scheduled for Thursday, but his attorney asked for a mental health evaluation before his client enters a plea.

Kier is charged with attempted deliberate homicide, aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon.

In the Dec. 12 incident, he allegedly stabbed a homeowner several times before being restrained by the homeowner and later arrested by law officers.

According to court documents, the homeowner had left the house to get a tool from the garage and then found Kier in his house, confronted him and overpowered him. Kier allegedly stabbed the man in the upper arm and inside his mouth with a steak knife, bending it severely during the attack.

Kier claimed to be a member of the Insane Clown Posse gang, calling himself a "Juggalo."

Kier's arraignment was rescheduled for Jan. 26. He remains jailed on $500,000 bond.

Court documents say Kier's father told detectives his son has a history of drug abuse and mental illness.

If convicted on all counts, Kier faces between 12 years and life in prison or the death penalty, and a fine of up to $100,000.