Arlee parent arrested for punching basketball coach

By Ethan Smith - Leader Staff

An Arlee parent has been charged with assault for punching the Arlee boys basketball coach following a game last Friday night at the district 8-B tournament in Libby.

Francis Pierre, 50, of Arlee was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assaulting a sports official and disorderly conduct after he punched Arlee coach Brandon Hobbs following Arlee’s loss to Superior on Feb. 16. Pierre was booked into the Lincoln county jail and released after posting bond, and must schedule a court date in Libby city court by Thursday (today), where he will be allowed to enter a plea.

Pierre faces a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail on the assault charge, and up to 10 days and a $100 fine on the disorderly conduct charge.

Pierre acknowledged hitting Hobbs in an interview earlier this week, but said Hobbs was being verbally abusive to his son Richard during the game. Hobbs denied that claim, saying he confronted Richard about a poor attitude during the game, but said he never used any abusive or profane language.

Following the game, both men say, Pierre and his son Richard were waiting outside the locker room to speak with Hobbs. Pierre said Hobbs “pushed” him when he walked by the two as Hobbs was about to go into the locker room, and that he reacted by punching him.

“He [Richard] told me what the coach said to him, and about that time the coach was coming into the locker room, so I turned around to talk to him,” Pierre said. “He kind of pushed me and said ‘Excuse me,’ and before I could do anything I reacted and took a swing at him. I’m pretty sure I hit him on the chin.”

Hobbs said he never initiated any contact with Pierre, noting that Pierre is significantly bigger than him. He also said that while he was animated in talking to Richard, he never was verbally abusive.

“I’m sure I was [animated]. I’m in the middle of a basketball game that’s going to end our season. I was just like I am in the middle of a huddle or on the court. I get excited,” Hobbs said. “But there was nothing threatening said. I’ve never used threatening words to a kid.”

Hobbs said Richard, a JV player and junior at Arlee High School, was called up to the varsity for the tournament, but had a defiant attitude all game. He sat the bench the entire game, and Hobbs feels Pierre’s outburst was simple frustration at his son’s lack of playing time.

“Richard is a JV player who swings up to the varsity team. He’s on the team because he works hard but he hasn’t seen much varsity time. During the game, he was pretty much staring me down, giving me dirty looks on the bench. I told him that if he didn’t want to be a positive influence on the team, then to go to the locker room or go home, because we have four or five guys who would have loved to be there,” Hobbs said of players who weren’t called up for the trip to districts.

Hobbs said the punch came out of nowhere, causing him to fall back and strike his head on the locker room door frame. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and received two staples to close a three-inch gash on the right side of his head.

“They stepped in front of me, and were backing up, backpedaling and cornering me off [from the locker room]. He sucker-punched me right in the face. I had no idea it was coming. I was pretty much knocked out. I was dazed,” Hobbs said.

He said he got up and immediately went into the gym to go find a law enforcement official. Libby High School principal Rik Rewerts stepped between the two men, and waited with Pierre until Libby police officers arrived.

Rewerts said that was the worst display of sportsmanship he’s seen in 28 years as a high school educator. He estimated 500 to 800 people were in the gym at the time.

“I’ve been involved with a lot of bad ones, but this was the worst I’ve seen. The fact that a physical blow transpired and it was taken out in front of the crowd … Little kids and everyone saw it,” Rewerts told the Western News in Libby.

Libby police chief Clay Coker echoed Rewerts’ concerns, saying they’ve never had a fight between adults at a sporting event in Libby. While he’s had to deal with some unruly parents at the annual Kootenai Class wrestling tournament, he’s never seen it reach a level where fists are used.

“Over the last several years I had to separate an out-of-town dad from a coach, but I don’t recall this ever happening here. Every now and then you have some student trouble but this is the first time we’ve had parents or adults get into it,” Coker said.

Coker said the initial report indicated the fight was over Richard’s lack of playing time, based on interviews conducted by the officers at the scene.

Coker said the difference between a misdemeanor and felony assault charge is based on the victim’s injuries. He said his officers aren’t finished with their report, but will be by the middle of the week.

Montana is one of more than a dozen states that have separate, harsher penalties for assaulting a sports official. A regular misdemeanor assault charge carries a fine of up to $500, versus the $1,000 Pierre potentially faces. Both carry possible jail sentences of up to six months.

Hobbs said Pierre should be facing a felony, not misdemeanor, charge.

“This was a premeditated, blatant display of pure stupidity,” Hobbs said. “He never said a single word to me and I never said a single word to him before he punched me.”

Hobbs said Pierre complained to the Arlee athletic director about Richard’s lack of playing time earlier last week. Hobbs said he believes the attack was because Richard sat the bench that night.

“That’s totally what it is. He had called my AD that day, him and his mother, saying they thought Richard should be getting playing time,” Hobbs said.

Pierre said he feels bad that Libby and Superior fans witnessed the event, but that he felt justified because of Hobbs’ treatment of his son. He submitted a letter to the editor regarding the incident, which appears on page A4.

“I seen him hollering at my son. My son wasn’t playing, he was sitting on the end of the bench. I feel very bad for my son being subject to this kind of treatment. He didn’t deserve anything like this, to be put down, the verbal part,” Pierre said.

Pierre said he was compliant with school officials following the altercation, and waited for law enforcement to arrive. He said he’s checking on whether his son can file charges for being “verbally attacked.”

“He didn’t play at all. He tries very hard, and made every practice. His grades are up. I don’t know why the coach didn’t play him,” Pierre said.

Hobbs, who had volunteered for the team for the past two years before becoming head coach this year, said he fears for his safety now. He’s also a substitute teacher in the school district.

“As long as there’s proper restraining orders in place, I’ll teach. It’s going to be something that’s in the back of my mind though [when he goes on campus]. As long as I feel I’m protected from him through restraining orders, and I have assurance from the schools, then I’ll continue to teach,” he said.

He said the incident hasn’t soured his love of coaching. Last Friday marked the end of his first season as a head coach.

“I can’t let this one guy discourage me from something I love to do. The hardest thing for me is leaving the kids I’ve been coaching for the last three years,” Hobbs said. “I can’t let this guy deter me from that, and let him take me away from those kids. I can’t let him get the best of me.”

Pierre said he’s anxious to have his day in court to clear this situation up.

“I felt justified. Until people know exactly what took place that shouldn’t judge anyone’s actions unless they know specifically what happened,” Pierre said. “I don’t want people to convict me, because I’d like a chance to say what transpired through my eyes.”

Hobbs declined to speculate on what would happen if Richard tries out for the team next year.