Man sentenced for assault

A 19-year-old Kalispell man has been given a one-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to misdemeanor partner or family member assault Feb. 23 in Flathead District Court.

James Malley initially was charged with felony rape but took the lower charge as part of a plea deal.

According to the original information filed by the Flathead County Prosecutor’s office, Malley was alleged to have forced his girlfriend to have sex with him after an altercation over money. That altercation came after she had already decided to move out and end their relationship.

Malley also was ordered to complete a domestic violence assessment and 40 hours of counseling and to pay a $200 fine, a $75 surcharge and a $250 public defender fee.