Two charged after fight involving guns
A pair of Kalispell-area residents face felony charges after an argument apparently turned into a raucous fight on Patrick Creek Road.
Paul Garcia, 72, is charged with assault with a weapon and Stacey Gilliam, 43, is charged with criminal endangerment.
According to a court document, Garcia was at the home of his nephew on Nov. 17 when the two got into an argument over how much money had been spent on gasoline while hunting. During the argument, Garcia allegedly pistol-whipped Paul West in the face with a Ruger .357-caliber magnum handgun, leaving marks later visible to deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Chuck Curry said the blow, to the left side of West’s face, knocked him to the ground.
At the time of the argument, Gilliam — who had her own .357-caliber magnum handgun with her — allegedly was standing outside of the home looking in.
Curry said she tried but could not break the window to help Garcia, so she shot through the window into the floor several times. A bullet hole later was found in the stairwell of the home.
Three other people reportedly witnessed the incident, and Curry said one of them wrestled with Garcia for control of his gun at one point.
Garcia and Gilliam eventually left the home and returned to their own home next door.
Curry said Garcia and West were both transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Garcia for a back injury and West for a heart condition worsened by the altercation. He said Gilliam also complained of pain in her arm but refused medical attention.
Gilliam was arrested the day of the incident and released two days later after posting a $25,000 bond. Garcia was arrested on Nov. 21 and released the same day after also posting a $25,000 bond.
If convicted, Garcia faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000, while Gilliam faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Gilliam is scheduled for arraignment on Dec. 6. An arraignment hearing has not yet been scheduled for Garcia.