Accused murderer expected to change plea

The Creston man accused of killing his father and brother before holding six people hostage for several hours in January 2010 is expected to change his innocent plea Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Justin Ray Calbick, 31, appeared in court Friday with his attorney, Vicki Frazier.

“At this time, my client has decided to go ahead with entering a plea,” Frazier told District Judge Katherine Curtis.

Calbick’s trial has been delayed three times since his arrest, but Frazier indicated Friday that he is nearing the completion of a plea agreement with the Flathead County Attorney’s Office. It’s not clear if Calbick will change his plea to guilty or to no contest.

Calbick was silent throughout Friday’s status hearing, but answered “yes” when Curtis asked if he was in favor of changing his plea.

He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of deliberate homicide on Feb. 4, 2010.

Calbick is accused of allegedly shooting to death 60-year-old Donald Calbick and 38-year-old Stacey Calbick on Jan. 27, 2010.

The bodies of Donald and Stacey Calbick were found at Donald Calbick’s Mennonite Church Road the following day.

After the shooting, Justin Calbick allegedly entered a house a half a mile away and forced his estranged wife, Sarah Peters, to bind her father and her friend with duct tape before he bound her, then held them at gunpoint. Three young children, who were not bound, also were in the house at the time, according to court documents.

For that incident, he is charged with kidnapping, aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon.

Justin Calbick also faces charges of sexual intercourse without consent and partner or family member assault from a separate incident.

Calbick has been held in the Flathead County Detention Center since his arrest.