Woman pleads guilty to assault with weapon

A 29-year-old Hungry Horse woman pleaded guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court to a felony charge of solicitation of assault with a weapon.

On July 21, two relatives of Leah Terrell and her boyfriend Ray Bell, 39, also of Hungry Horse, were headed toward Bell’s residence after a friend told them he was being threatened by people with a baseball bat. As they drove up, Terrell shouted, “Shoot them, Ray, shoot them!”

The pair then saw Bell aim a long gun at them and fire several shots.

Terrell was also charged with felony assault with a weapon for allegedly aiming a handgun at the victims, but that charge was dropped in exchange for her pleading to the solicitation charge.

She faces up to 40 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000. Her sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 27.

Bell is charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. If he is convicted on all three charges, he faces up to 20 years and six months in jail and a fine of up to $100,500.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge on Aug. 9. His next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5, with a trial set to begin the same day.