Kalispell woman charged in alleged weed whacker attack

A Kalispell woman has been charged with attacking another woman with a weed wacker during a late night incident last week.

Larissa Marie Sunell, 29, is facing one felony count of assault with a weapon after the Nov. 11 incident at a home on Ashley Drive.

Sunell is currently lodged in the Flathead County Detention Center on $25,000 bail. Her next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 18.

Charging documents indicate Kalispell Police officers spoke to a person who reported the incident at 11 p.m. She alleged Sunell was drunk and “out of control.” Officers reported the accused was intoxicated.

The victim said Sunell had been yelling, screaming and throwing items out of the residence’s second-floor window. Sunell then left the residence and the victim left, too, because she feared Sunell would “mess with” propane tanks on the property.

Sunell allegedly picked up a weed wacker and attacked the victim, causing injuries which included cuts on her arms and fingers.

In 2011, Sunell was charged with writing more than two dozen bad checks totaling more than $2,000. She received a three-year deferred sentence in 2012.

But in 2015, her probation officer reported she had tested positive for use of opiates and marijuana while also allegedly using methamphetamine. She also hadn’t paid the full amount of restitution and court fees.

She was arrested on a bench warrant in 2016 and denied the allegations. Court documents indicate Sunell failed to appear for a hearing on the revocation allegations in the early part of 2017. In May 2017, she received a three-year suspended sentence and was ordered to follow the previous conditions of it.

However, later in 2017, she was accused of using illegal drugs again. She was then sentenced to three years in the state Department of Corrections with a placement in a recovery program.

Court records indicate she paid her restitution in 2019.

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