Kalispell man charged with murder following alleged assault in Butte

A 46-year-old Kalispell man was arrested Tuesday in Divide, Montana, and is charged with negligent homicide in connection with an alleged assault in the parking lot of the Town Pump in Butte, according to the Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department.

Jesse Jose Mollenkopf was arrested following an investigation into an incident that occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Oct. 12, according to a press release.

During the parking lot incident, Mollenkopf allegedly assaulted Jason Acebedo, 46 of Butte. Acebedo sustained serious head injuries, was transported to a medical facility in Salt Lake City and died there on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

Mollenkopf is jailed in the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center.

Mollenkopf is known to law officers in Flathead County after his involvement in two violent offenses dating back to 2007.

In April 2020, Mollenkopf pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment after a November 2019 incident in which he threatened another man with a knife and told him he was going to kill him.

Mollenkopf received a 3-year suspended sentence after spending 107 days in the Flathead County Detention Center.

In 2007, Mollenkopf was charged with sexual assault and incest after multiple incidents involving a young girl between May 1, 2005 and May 30, 2007.

The charges were dropped in December 2008 and Mollenkopf was ordered to remain law-abiding for 18 months.