Man pleads innocent to assaults on man, vehicle

A 20-year-old Kalispell man pleaded not guilty to felony charges in two cases Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Timothy Pickett is charged with aggravated assault related to an Aug. 8, 2010, incident and criminal mischief in connection with a Jan. 1, 2011, incident.

In 2010, Pickett allegedly assaulted a man on Ninth Avenue West who had been laughing at and making fun of him. He told officers that he then stood up and punched the man in the face three times, and that he knew he had done serious damage, suggesting that the man “must have soft bones.”

Court documents state that the left side of the victim’s face was caved in and that he would require reconstructive facial surgery.

In 2011, Pickett allegedly broke out all the windows, turn signals and headlights of a vehicle in Hungry Horse and also made several dents in the paneling. The damage was estimated at between $9,000 and $10,000.

In conversations with police, Pickett allegedly admitted he and two others damaged the vehicle using a shovel and a sledgehammer.

If convicted on both charges, Pickett faces up to 30 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.