Man pleads guilty to felony assault

A 48-year-old Kalispell man pleaded guilty Aug. 30 in Flathead District Court to felony partner or family member assault.

Ronnie Arthur admitted assaulting a woman in his apartment. She sustained a black eye and swelling of the right side of her face and her dentures were knocked out. The last thing she said she remembered was Arthur choking her.

A second charge of felony failure to register as a violent offender was dismissed, partially because of his plea and partially because a temporary registry by Arthur was found after the charge was filed.

Arthur faces between 30 days and five years in prison and a fine of between $500 and $50,000, as well as restitution for the woman’s medical bills, which were noted in court as being significant.

Arthur has three prior convictions for partner or family member assault from September 1994, March 1997 and March 2006, as well as a conviction for aggravated assault with domestic abuse from July 1997.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10.