Hungry Horse woman suspected of setting truck alight

A Hungry Horse woman faces felony charges in Flathead County District Court after allegedly starting a fire in a broken-down pickup truck in August.  

Prosecutors brought Tori Ashlynn Tallent, 24, up on felony counts of arson and criminal possession of dangerous drugs as well as one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the Aug. 26 fire in Hungry Horse. She pleaded not guilty at her Sept. 4 arraignment before Judge Heidi Ulbricht.  

Authorities began investigating Tallent after heading to a Hungry Horse Boulevard home about 9:36 a.m. for a report of a truck fire, according to court documents. The person who discovered the fire told the Flathead County Sheriff's Office that he was at the property to pick up tools when he smelled smoke. 

Looking around, he spotted smoke rising out of the broken-down 1977 Chevrolet Silverado left on the west side of the property, court documents said. Heading over and inspecting the vehicle, he found flames running along the fabric of the driver's seat.  

After dousing the fire with a hose, he noticed a cup on the ground nearby, which smelled of gasoline, according to court documents.  

Deputies investigating the blaze reported the fire blackened the truck's windows, burned the interior and damaged the steering wheel, court documents said. Officials put the damage at more than $1,500.  

Authorities identified Tallent as a suspect and arrested her the following day, according to court documents. She allegedly admitted to igniting the fire.  

Searching Tallent at the county jail, authorities found a lighter, folded up strips of tinfoil, a plastic tube and three blue pills suspected of being fentanyl stored in cigarette package cellophane all tucked into her bra, court documents said. Two more folded up pieces of tinfoil were later found in Tallent's clothing.  

That evidence was later turned over to agents with the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. Authorities sent one of the pills to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis, court documents said.  

Tallent, who is being held in the county jail with bail set at $35,000, is expected back in court on Sept. 25 for a bail modification hearing. Ulbricht has set an omnibus hearing in the case for Nov. 19 and a pretrial conference for Jan. 9.  

Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine, while criminal possession of dangerous drugs carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. 

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