Man accused of punching deputies earns deferred sentence

A 19-year-old accused of punching a sheriff's deputy earlier this year received a deferred sentence after striking a plea deal with prosecutors in June.  

Colton Low initially faced a felony assault on a peace officer charge in Flathead County District Court following his March 2 arrest. He pleaded not guilty at his March 19 arraignment before Judge Robert Allison, but signed a plea deal June 17 that saw the charge lessened to a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.  

The agreement stipulated that prosecutors would seek a suspended sentence for the 19-year-old, but his attorney was free to argue for a deferred sentence.  

Allison handed down the one-year deferred sentence the same day, giving Low credit for four days of time served and ordering him to pay a $150 fine.  

Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies crossed paths with Low after neighbors of a Cobbler Way apartment reported hearing screaming and noise that sounded like objects getting thrown against walls March 1, according to court documents.  

Deputies entering the Kalispell area apartment found Low inside. When they told him he was barred from leaving and needed to sit down, he allegedly refused. When the deputies pulled out restraints, Low swung at one of them, court documents said.  

One punch landed on a deputy's ear, leaving it red and sensitive, court documents alleged. 

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