Man pleads guilty to reduced charge in arson homicide

On Wednesday, a Kalispell man accused of murdering his father in an arson fire withdrew his not guilty plea to one count of deliberate homicide and instead pleaded guilty to an amended count of criminal endangerment and entered into a binding, no-contest plea agreement.

In November, Jason David Weldele pleaded not guilty to one felony count of deliberate homicide in the death of his 63-year-old father, Daniel Gerald Weldele. Following that plea, a pretrial hearing was scheduled for Jan. 27, but on Jan. 19, the parties in the case signed a plea agreement charging Weldele with a reduced charge of criminal endangerment.

In exchange for the plea, the parties will recommend that presiding Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy impose a five-year suspended sentence with additional conditions once the groups proceed to sentencing. However, under the terms of the agreement, if Eddy chooses not to follow that recommendation, Weldele will have the opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea and the matter will again be set for trial.

Public Defender Liam Gallagher, who is representing Weldele, told the Daily Inter Lake he currently anticipates Eddy will follow the recommendations laid out in the agreement. He added that it is not uncommon for the parties in cases such as these to land on a reduced charge of criminal endangerment. Gallagher explained that the terms of the plea agreement allow Weldele to avoid the “all or nothing gamble” of going to trial before a jury that can be “an unpredictable animal.”

Court documents indicate Jason Weldele, 42, allegedly blocked his father’s ability to possibly escape from a burning residence.

The charging document states Daniel Weldele was “semi-ambulatory” and needed assistance getting around the home in Kalispell. A preliminary autopsy report indicated he died of smoke inhalation.

The incident began Oct. 16 at approximately 5:21 p.m. when Jason Weldele called the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to report suspicious activity at the residence. A deputy reported Weldele allegedly said strangers had entered his residence and placed hidden cameras around the home, but said his father was inside the home with him and that he didn’t want officers to respond.

More than six hours later, 911 dispatch received another call from Jason Weldele. He reported the building was on fire, but he didn’t confirm an address and said “I gotta go” before promptly hanging up the phone.

Law officers and firefighters responded shortly after 2 a.m. on Oct. 17 and discovered flames coming out of the home. Jason Weldele was allegedly found outside of the residence and according to a deputy’s report, was acting erratic and ran away when asked if anyone else was inside the burning structure.

Daniel Weldele’s body was later discovered inside the home. Deputies also found a shard of glass and lighter in Jason Weldele’s pocket after he was arrested.

On Wednesday, after accepting the plea agreement, Eddy ordered a presentence investigation report. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com