Arlee parent appeals assault conviction

Zach Urness — Leader Staff

The Arlee parent who was convicted of assault on a sports official for punching his son's basketball coach was sentenced to five days in jail last week, but will appeal his conviction, his attorney said.

Francis Pierre was also ordered to attend 20 hours of anger management counseling and pay more than $900 in restitution for medical bills incurred by former Arlee basketball coach Brandon Hobbs.

Pierre's attorney has filed a notice of appeal though, saying Pierre believes he was justified in punching the coach.

"He wants a chance to have his story heard," said attorney James Reintsma. "He says that there was a racial comment, that, along with the verbal abuse of his son, set him off."

Reintsma did note, however, that he was not aware of any new evidence that would be introduced.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred Feb. 16 in which Pierre hit Hobbs outside a locker room after the team's final game of the season at the 2007 district tournament in Libby.

Pierre has said all along that while he did hit Hobbs, he was justified because Hobbs verbally abused his son and used foul language during the course of the basketball game — charges Hobbs denies. Hobbs resigned as coach last summer, saying his business interests were taking up too much of his time, but said last month he's reconsidering.

He suffered a sore jaw and gash behind his ear that required two staples to close as a result of being punched.

The incident led the Arlee school board to ban Pierre from all Arlee school district activities prior to trial and have worked to have other districts enforce the ban.