Kalispell man sentenced for knife attack

A Kalispell man who stabbed another man at a party last year was sentenced last week to serve time in state prison.

Spencer Blaney, 21, received a 20-year sentence with 10 years suspended from Flathead District Court Judge Dan Wilson.

Blaney originally faced a deliberate attempted homicide charge after police said he stabbed the man a dozen times at a party in Columbia Falls Nov. 17, 2017.

In a plea agreement, Blaney pleaded guilty in March to an amended charge of assault with a weapon.

Witnesses reported that Blaney showed up uninvited to a bonfire on Trumble Creek Road in Columbia Falls on Nov. 17. The witnesses allegedly heard Blaney say, “I’m going to [expletive] kill you,” as he attacked another man at the party, according to the police report.

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies reportedly made contact with the stabbing victim at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where he was being treated for approximately 12 stab wounds.

The victim told deputies he had been standing at the bonfire when Blaney allegedly came over to him and attacked him. According to the police report, the victim stated that Blaney had been threatening to stab and kill him prior to the incident.

Witnesses at the party told police the stabbing victim was reportedly in a relationship with Blaney’s ex-wife. One of the witnesses reported to have tackled Blaney and grabbed the knife from him.

Blaney allegedly fled the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital by a friend.

A few hours later, Blaney turned himself in to law enforcement. According to the police report, Blaney admitted he had attempted to instigate a fight with the victim earlier that day, but he “was the bigger man and chose not to.” According to deputies, Blaney also stated that all of his anger toward the victim built up and “he lost it.”

Thursday, county Deputy Attorney Alison Howard requested a five-year parole restriction for Blaney, which the victim and his mother both supported.

The victim testified at sentencing that while he had recovered physically, he was still dealing with the attack mentally.

He also said he believed the parole restriction was a “fair deal.”

The victim’s mother, who teared up as she spoke, said that while they are getting through the ordeal, it hasn’t been easy.

She explained that her son had dealt with the stabbing by drinking heavily and wondering what he had done wrong to be attacked.

Blaney’s attorney, William Managhan, said he didn’t agree with the parole restriction.

“Spencer had no prior criminal record before this, he has always been employed, he is a volunteer fireman and he is also the father of a 2-year-old son.

“He got in a bad situation and handled it terribly,” Managhan said.

When Judge Wilson asked Managhan how the crime could be explained, he responded by saying “I don’t know if it was an addiction to drugs, but there was excessive alcohol consumption.”

While Wilson said the parole restriction was fair, he did say that the parole was not automatically granted and ordered against granting the restriction.

Blaney received credit for time served of 167 days.

“It’s up to you to repay this debt to society by walking the straight and narrow,” Wilson told Blaney.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.