Stalker's appeal denied by high court

The Montana Supreme Court has denied a Missoula man’s appeal to have his conviction for felony stalking overturned.

Brandon Kyle Bagnell, 46, had wanted to appeal his five-year sentence, which was handed down in November 2014, after he kicked and stabbed a woman in the Ravalli area who had allegedly refused to sell marijuana for him.

During his incarceration for drug charges after illegal substances were found in his vehicle three days following the attack, he sent the woman threatening letters that condemned her for not visiting him in prison.

After a no-contact order was granted against Bagnell, he continued to contact the woman.

Bagnell has violated no-contact orders in the past at least three times, court records show.

“I’m indigent, ignorant, high school drop-out with ADHD and mental health problems,” Bagnell wrote in a request to have a public defender appointed after a state-appointed public defender previously determined his appeal was without merit.

The high court did not agree with Bagnell’s arguments.

“We conclude that an appeal in this case would be wholly frivolous,” Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath wrote in a Tuesday ruling that all of his fellow justices concurred with.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.