Man pleads innocent to attempted murder

A 19-year-old Kalispell man charged with attempted murder for an alleged violent attack on a Fifth Avenue East resident pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Dante Kier is charged with attempted deliberate homicide, aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon after allegedly stabbing a homeowner with a steak knife on Dec. 12, 2011.

According to court documents, the man had gone to his garage to get a tool while working on his dishwasher and found Kier standing in his hallway when he came back inside.

Kier allegedly attacked the man, stabbing him in the upper arm and inside the mouth before trying several times to stab him in the ribs.

The blade of the knife was “bent severely” during the attack.

Kier was arrested after the homeowner overpowered him and held him until police arrived.

The arraignment hearing was postponed several times pending a determination about whether Kier was mentally fit to stand trial.

Although he was found fit, the determination was basic and has no bearing on Kier’s defense if he goes to trial.

If convicted of all three felonies, Kier faces between 14 and 180 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

He currently is being held on $500,000 bond.