Son accused of using bear spray on mom

A man accused of deploying bear spray against his mother on Friday has been charged with felony assault with a weapon.

Joshua James Gomez, 30, was jailed after the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that someone had been sprayed at 1:26 p.m. at a home on Marion Pines Drive in Marion.

According to court documents, a deputy investigated and Gomez’s mother stated her son had sprayed her in the face with pepper spray and caused her to temporarily go blind. The deputy noted that Gomez struggled to breathe as she recounted the events.

Gomez allegedly admitted the crime and said he had tossed the bear spray canister into the back yard.

Gomez has been released from custody. He will be arraigned March 31.