Man faces felony charge for allegedly sending threatening texts

A Kalispell man is facing multiple charges in Flathead County District Court for allegedly sending threatening text messages after a dustup in a downtown bar last month.  

Prosecutors charged Michael James Gigrich, 37, with felony intimidation and misdemeanor assault in connection with the Sept. 17 confrontation. Arraigned before Judge Dan Wilson, Gigrich pleaded not guilty on Oct. 2.  

The victim told Kalispell Police officers he said hello to Gigrich's mother, who was at the downtown establishment with her husband and Gigrich. The two knew each other professionally, the victim told authorities.  

Gigrich approached him a little while later and allegedly grabbed him by the neck before pushing him away. He started yelling at the victim for speaking with his mother, court documents said.  

Security footage from the bar captured the confrontation, court documents said.  

The victim began receiving text messages from Gigrich later that night, court documents alleged. The messages allegedly accused the victim of flirting with Gigrich's mother and warned him to stop, on penalty of death. 

"In other words if I ever see you try to defile the sanctity of my parents' marriage again, I will stomp your skull into the [concrete] until I see your brains," read one message detailed in the charging documents.  

During a Sept. 22 interview with investigators, Gigrich allegedly admitted to manhandling the victim at the bar. He said his parents had kicked him out of the house following the confrontation, and he had subsequently gone on a bender, according to court documents.  

He told investigators he woke up at an area hotel with no knowledge of how he got there and while the messages were on his phone, he had no recollection of sending them, court documents said.  

An omnibus hearing in Gigrich's case is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026 with a pretrial conference to follow on March 10. If convicted of felony intimidation, Gigrich could face up to 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine. 

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