Man accused of wielding shotgun pleads not guilty to assault charge

A man arrested after allegedly threatening an attack with a shotgun at a Whitefish area bar has pleaded not guilty to an assault with a weapon charge in Flathead District Court.

Aaron Douglas Glenn Kupka, 36, of Whitefish was arraigned before Judge Amy Eddy on July 21. He is out on a $50,000 commercial bond and restricted from possessing firearms, among other conditions.

Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kupka on July 9 after receiving reports of a confrontation involving guns. One witness told investigators that he locked the door to the bar after spotting Kupka approaching with a shotgun. According to court documents, Kupka had threatened to kill with the weapon previously.

Upon finding the bar room door locked, Kupka allegedly aimed the weapon at him.

Arriving deputies found a group of people milling around outside the bar about 1:33 a.m. A man later identified as Kupka directed deputies to his van after they asked about a gun, court documents said.

Deputies confirmed the shotgun was in the vehicle, court documents said, and during a subsequent search of Kupka, allegedly found shotgun shells in his pocket.

At Kupka’s July 21 court appearance, Eddy scheduled an omnibus hearing for Sept. 28. Kupka is due back in court for an Oct. 19 pretrial conference with a status hearing to follow on Nov. 7.

Assault with a weapon carries a maximum punishment of 20 years behind bars and a fine of $50,000.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.