Father accused of threatening son enters into deferred prosecution agreement

A Columbia Falls man accused of threatening his son with a gun in the summer of 2023 later received a deferred prosecution agreement.  

Prosecutors charged Stephen Michael Halley with felony assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court following the Aug. 5, 2023 confrontation on the 200 block of First Street West in Columbia Falls. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before Judge Dan Wilson later that month.  

In February 2024, Halley entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Flathead County Attorney's Office. Upon one year without a violation, namely committing a felony or misdemeanor, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice.  

Prosecutors subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice on Feb. 20, 2024. Judge Dan Wilson ordered it dismissed the following day.  

Halley's son told Columbia Falls Police officers in August 2023 that his father was drinking prior to the confrontation, according to court documents. After getting into an argument with his wife, he left home and later returned with a gun, court documents alleged. In a subsequent disagreement, he allegedly threatened his son with the firearm.  

Officers recovered a loaded handgun from Halley at the scene, court documents said. 

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