Kidnap charge dropped in plea deal

A 43-year-old Olney man pleaded guilty to drug possession and partner or family member assault Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Steven Boyd Jr. originally was charged with felony counts of burglary, kidnapping and possession of dangerous drugs as well as misdemeanor partner or family member assault in connection with a Nov. 9, 2011, incident.

Boyd was arrested after being stopped in a vehicle with his ex-girlfriend.

She told police that she and her boyfriend were in their home, sleeping, when Boyd entered the home and began yelling. He took her cell phone away and pulled the cord for the land line out of the wall.

She eventually agreed to leave with Boyd to protect her boyfriend, asking him to call law enforcement as they left.

When they left, Boyd bought gasoline, then went back up Patrick Creek Road to retrieve his vehicle, which he had parked nearly a mile away from her home so he could sneak up. It was after they left in his vehicle that they encountered police responding to a call from the woman’s boyfriend.

Boyd still had the woman’s phone with him when he was arrested. A search of his car also turned up methamphetamine and a loaded 9-millimeter handgun.

At the time of the incident, Boyd was serving a three-year suspended sentence for a 2011 felony conviction for issuing a bad check.

According to a plea agreement, in exchange for Boyd’s guilty pleas on the drug and assault charges, the burglary and kidnapping charges will be dropped. The prosecution will request a three-year jail sentence for violating that probation and a consecutive five-year suspended sentence for the new convictions.

If the judge chooses not to follow the agreement, Boyd could face between two and 18 years in jail.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 24.