Teen accused of shooting at father takes plea deal

A teenager accused of shooting at his father during a disagreement in Columbia Falls over the summer has struck a plea deal with prosecutors.

Prosecutors initially charged Jeremiah Russell Rardon, 19, with assault with a weapon following his arrest in July. Rardon pleaded guilty in Flathead County District Court to an amended charge of felony criminal endangerment on Jan. 5 after agreeing to the deal.

Under the terms of the agreement, prosecutors will recommend Rardon receive a suspended five-year sentence with the state Department of Corrections. His sentencing before Judge Dan Wilson is scheduled for March 2.

The July 29 dispute that led to gunfire began over a parking job, according to court documents. An upset Rardon allegedly rammed another vehicle — containing two passengers — parked in a driveway off of Brunner Road. When Rardon’s father yelled at him to stop, the younger man got out of the vehicle, pulled out a 9 mm handgun and fired it several times, court documents said.

Rardon fled in his vehicle, later parking it and taking off on foot into the woods, according to court documents. When Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the vehicle, a green Subaru, they recovered two boxes of 9 mm ammunition and a black holster, court documents said.

They allegedly found a 9 mm handgun about 200 feet from the vehicle.

Rardon later turned himself in and allegedly admitted to firing a gun. But he told investigators he had aimed the gun at the sky, court documents said.

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