Hungry Horse man charged with attempted murder

Prosecutors have brought attempted murder charges against a Hungry Horse man who allegedly wounded a man with a shotgun blast in December while firing at others.

Ryan Lee Moskaloff, 38, faces two felony counts of attempted deliberate homicide and one felony count of assault with a weapon. 

He pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

On Dec. 26, Moskaloff was with two other people on his property in Hungry Horse, according to court documents. They learned that three people had come onto the property and stepped outside to confront them. Moskaloff allegedly emerged holding a shotgun.

The three people later told investigators that they went to Moskaloff’s property to retrieve a Chevrolet Tahoe. One man, Brad Winters, said that he got into the vehicle and then heard a shotgun blast.

Winters scrambled out of the Tahoe and got back into his own truck, according to court documents. He drove away as additional shots hit the vehicle.

A woman who was with Winters, Stormie Winters, told investigators that she dove into the bed of Brad’s truck as the shots struck the pickup.

The third person, C.J. Stordalen, fled in his own vehicle. He and other witnesses said that they saw Moskaloff firing the shotgun, according to court documents. Holes were found on Winters’ truck and on the Tahoe.

During the shooting, Moskaloff’s friend was hit in the ankle. He claimed that he tried to push down on Moskaloff’s shotgun, causing it to fire accidentally, according to court records.

Moskaloff was first charged in January with two counts of assault with a weapon and a count of criminal endangerment. He pleaded not guilty to those charges that month.

Earlier this month, prosecutors filed amended charges for attempted deliberate homicide. 

Moskaloff is currently serving a two-year prison sentence for violating his parole from a string of previous convictions. He received that sentence in April.

He has a long list of previous charges in Flathead County, including sexual assault, theft, burglary and drug possession.

Moskaloff is listed as an inmate with the Montana Department of Corrections, currently being held in the Flathead County Detention Center.

He could face life in prison if convicted on the new charges.

After Moskaloff entered his not-guilty plea, District Court Judge Ted O. Lympus set his next court hearing for Oct. 28.