Motorist suspected of gunplay given deferred sentence

A man suspected of aiming a handgun at another motorist while stopped at a U.S. 2 intersection in October earned a deferred sentence in Flathead County District Court earlier this year.

Prosecutors initially brought Austin Thomas Gomon, 22, up on a felony count of assault with a weapon following his Oct. 5 arrest in Kalispell. Gomon, who initially maintained his innocence, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor negligent endangerment Jan. 31 after taking a deal.

Judge Robert Allison, who presided over the case, handed down a deferred two-year sentence the same day. 

Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office picked Gomon up after a 911 call came in about 1:20 p.m., Oct 5 reporting the alleged gunplay. The victim told authorities he was driving along U.S. 2 East when a red Ford Mustang passed him before cutting him off, according to court documents. 

The two vehicles came to a stop alongside one another at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Rose Crossing. Sitting inside the Mustang, Gomon allegedly drew a black pistol and leveled it at the other motorist, holding it there between five and 10 seconds. 

Armed with the Mustang’s license plate number, deputies tracked the muscle car down near West Reserve Drive and Country Way in Kalispell, according to court documents. During the ensuing traffic stop, deputies allegedly spotted a semi automatic Beretta pistol next to the driver’s seat, court documents said.

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