Court standoff resolved

Plea agreement reached in Wilbert Michel case

Michael Cast / Leader Staff

A standoff which began with the Polson police in April ended in court on Wednesday when a plea agreement was reached between Wilbert Michel and the State of Montana. Michel was originally charged with three counts of assault with a weapon, a felony, and one count of criminal endangerment, a felony, for his actions one evening months earlier. If convicted on all charges, Michel would have faced a maximum penalty of 70 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine and restitution.

However, under the conditions of the plea agreement, Michel will serve two consecutive 5-year terms with the possibility of parole after seven years. The conditions which Michel agreed to include a plea of no contest to the charges of assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment, which he entered on Wednesday, to serve 25 days in the Lake County jail, and to write and send a public apology to the Flathead Tribal Police, the Polson Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff's office. As part of the plea agreement, the state hs agreed to drop the three counts of assault with a weapon. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, October 1st at 9am.

On April 22, 2008 Michels was negotiated out of his house and arrested by police 3-hours after wielding a firearm in the presence of his family.