Kalispell man pleads guilty to assault on bus driver

A Kalispell man accused of punching a county bus driver last year recently pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment.

Gary Moller, 27, entered his plea April 17. His sentencing is scheduled for May 31.

According to court records, Kalispell police officers responded to Windward Way for a report of an assault on an Eagle Transit bus driver. One officer spoke with an eyewitness to the altercation, who said she checked on the unconscious victim. The officer also spoke with another witness, who said she saw Moller punch the driver before fleeing the scene.

The officer then spoke with the driver before he was taken to the hospital. The driver said he picked up Moller in Whitefish and took him to the area of The Summit in Kalispell. Moller said he wanted to be taken to Evergreen, but the driver told him he needed to catch the city bus.

When they arrived at The Summit, Moller was upset with the driver for not taking him to Evergreen and allegedly punched the driver in the face, knocking him to the ground.

The victim later told a Kalispell detective that he suffered a broken tailbone, broken nose and a concussion from the punch. He said he was unable to continue to work for the bus company because of the injuries he suffered.

About a week later, another Eagle Transit driver contacted Kalispell police to report the man involved in the assault had just got off the bus at Starbucks on U.S. 93.

An officer then spoke with Moller. The victim later reportedly identified Moller in a lineup. Both eyewitnesses each identified Moller as one of two possible suspects in a lineup, as well.

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