Man pleads not guilty to partner assault

 A Kalispell man has pleaded not guilty in a pair of felony partner or family member assault cases.

John Bering, 43, entered his plea in the first case on Dec. 5 in Flathead District Court.

A court document in the case reports his ex-wife called 911 on Nov. 16 to report that Bering had punched, shoved, and choked her, and that she had lost consciousness at some point. She went to her neighbor’s home and called police after regaining consciousness.

Responding law officers observed scratches on the woman’s face, left ear, neck and arms. She was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for difficulty breathing and throat pain.

Kalispell police officers later arrested Bering in the bathroom of a camper down the block.

His next hearing in the case is Feb. 12.

Bering entered a not guilty plea in his second case on Thursday.

That case alleges another incident of Bering assaulting his ex-wife three months before the first case.

A court document in that case alleges he was camping with his ex-wife at the Ashley Lake campground on Aug. 24, and that she told him he had to sleep outside that evening because there was not enough room in the camper for both of them.

Bering then punched and kicked her, leaving a small cut above her left eye and red marks on her neck. She also reportedly told law enforcement that she believed her arm was broken.

His next hearing in the case is set for March 5.

Bering has a history of such assaults, according to court documents in both cases, which state he was convicted of partner or family member assault in February 2000, June 2006 and October 2006. They also state he was convicted of battery on a peace officer in January 2007 and has been charged twice with failing to appear in court.

He is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his bond is set at $50,000.