Kalispell man pleads not guilty to child endangerment

A Kalispell man has pleaded not guilty to felony criminal child endangerment following an April traffic stop.

Matthew Hattel, 28, entered the plea Thursday in Flathead District Court.

According to a court document, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped Hattel on April 1 for speeding on U.S. 2. Hattel had his two children — ages 4 and 10 — in the vehicle with him.

The trooper reported Hattel appeared disoriented and confused, and that he had trouble answering simple questions. Hattel allegedly told the trooper there was no possibility the vehicle smelled like marijuana before admitting people smoked it in the car and that he had smoked marijuana the prior night.

Hattel then allegedly failed a field sobriety test before refusing a breath-alcohol test, then consenting to a blood draw.

He was initially incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his bond was set at $15,000, but he was later released on his own recognizance.

If convicted, Hattel faces up to 10 years in the Montana State Prison and a fine of up to $50,000. His next hearing is set for June 11.