Man pleads innocent to endangerment charge

A 21-year-old Kalispell man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that came after a 2-year-old boy under his care was found sitting in the middle of a road.

In addition to endangering the welfare of a child, Russell Flanigan is charged with felony manufacturing of drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, officers responded to Denver Avenue in Kalispell after a woman reported she had found the boy sitting in the middle of the road wearing only a T-shirt and sweat pants despite the 13-degree temperature.

One officer followed the boy’s footprints through the snow back to a home, where he found Flanigan lying in bed. The officer “had to shake Flanigan vigorously in order to wake him up,” at which point he asked him if he had a little boy, which he confirmed.

“When asked if he knew where [the child] was, Flanigan responded, ‘I guess I don’t,’” the documents state.

During a search of the home, officers found two mature and 10 smaller marijuana plants along with equipment to grow marijuana, two small bongs and a makeshift apparatus that contained marijuana residue.

The child’s mother was contacted and she returned to the home, where she was also questioned. Neither she nor Flanigan have medical marijuana cards.

If convicted on all charges, Flanigan faces up to 11 years in jail and a fine of up to $51,000. He entered his pleas in Flathead District Court, where his next hearing is scheduled for May 9.