Ryan Lamb pleads not guilty to amended homicide

Ryan Cody Lamb, who is accused of fatally stabbing his boyfriend with scissors, pleaded not guilty to an amended charge of felony negligent homicide in Flathead District Court Aug. 21.

The Kalispell man also pleaded not guilty to a felony deliberate homicide charge.

This means a jury could convict Lamb on the lesser charge of negligent homicide as an alternative to felony deliberate homicide in the fatal stabbing of Ryan Nixon in August 2018.

The recent arraignment follows the conclusion of Lamb’s murder trial held in June, when Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison declared a mistrial after the jury remained deadlocked. The jury first voted 8-4 for “not guilty,” then 11-1 following 13 hours of deliberation.

Prosecutors allege Nixon died of three stab wounds from a pair of scissors wielded by Lamb during a sexual encounter at a Two Mile Drive apartment in Kalispell on Aug. 5, 2018. Defense attorneys said Lamb acted in self-defense because he feared for his life after Nixon poked him repeatedly with a fork.

The court will now decide on motions to dismiss filed by the defense. One of the motions to dismiss contends a second trial is a violation of the double jeopardy clause of the constitution.

If convicted of felony negligent homicide, Lamb could face up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.

If convicted of deliberate homicide, he may face a prison term of 10 to more than 100 years.

Since the incident involved a dangerous weapon, the offense in either charge is punishable by an additional prison term of two to 10 years.

Lamb remains free on bail.