Jury finds Baszler guilty of weapon assault

After a day-long trial, a Lake County jury found a Polson man guilty of assault with a weapon.

Jury selection began Monday, May 19, in District Court in Polson for Eric Walter Baszler, 42. On Tuesday morning, Baszler was found guilty.

According to court records, on Sept. 16, 2024, a man and woman contacted law enforcement to report that a man in a white pickup pulled up alongside them and brandished a pistol at them. The incident occurred at the intersection of Memory Lane and U.S. Highway 93 in Polson.

The man, later identified as Baszler, allegedly said, “I know who you are, chill the f*** out.” The couple stayed on the phone with emergency dispatchers as they made their way into the Wal-Mart parking lot, while the man pursued them in his vehicle.

Polson Police responded, located the suspect’s white pick-up and made a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Baszler, claimed the couple had stolen money from a friend. He acknowledged having a pistol, but said he never took it out of its holster. Police searched the pick-up and located two guns.

Baszler allegedly smelled of alcohol, and was brought to the Lake County Jail and processed under suspicion of DUI. He was unable to give a sufficient sample for the Intoxilizer 9000, which records a person’s blood alcohol content. That charge was dismissed, with prejudice, on March 4.

Judge Molly Owen presided over the trial and set sentencing for July 16. Baszler was placed in handcuffs and escorted to the Lake County Jail. Assault with a weapon carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Records show Baslzer with a previous conviction for theft from Flathead Brewing Company. He was ordered to pay restitution of $27,359.34 and had the imposition of sentencing deferred for six years in that case.

Ben Anciaux with the Lake County Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Baszler was represented by Dustin Allen with the Office of Public Defender, with Anthony Romano, also of OPD, as co-counsel.