Pair claim innocence in shooting incident
A pair of Hungry Horse residents pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court to several felony charges related to a July 21 shooting incident.
Leaha Terrell, 29, and her boyfriend Ray Bell, 39, both of Hungry Horse, are accused of shooting at two of their relatives over money issues and accusations regarding a family member’s death.
According to a court document, the two victims headed toward Bell’s residence after a friend had said he was being threatened by people with a baseball bat. As they drove up to the residence, they saw Terrell and Bell and heard Terrell yell “Shoot them, Ray, shoot them!”
They then reportedly saw Bell aim a long gun at them and Terrell aim a handgun at them. As they drove off, Bell allegedly fired three shots at them.
The court document also states Bell has been speaking with Terrell regarding the investigation, and that Terrell arranged for them to leave for Oregon immediately after Bell’s release from jail. Terrell also allegedly made several Facebook posts regarding the incident, including an image of her firing an assault rifle with curse-laden messages threatening “haters” and saying “We r gone forever.”
The document went on to claim Terrell has a prior conviction for a violent felony in Pennsylvania and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Terrell is charged with felony counts of assault with a weapon and solicitation of assault with a weapon. If convicted of both charges, she faces up to 40 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
Bell is charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. If he is convicted on all three charges, he faces up to 20 years and six months in jail and a fine of up to $100,500.
Bell had also been charged with felony criminal mischief for allegedly ramming a vehicle belonging to one of the two victims in the shooting case, but that case was dismissed without prejudice on July 25.
Both Terrell’s and Bell’s next hearings are Sept. 19.
Terrell and Bell are both currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where their bonds are set at $60,000. During a hearing later in the day, a request by Terrell’s attorney to have her bond reduced was denied.