Seely enters guilty plea

POLSON — A Hot Springs man filed a guilty plea last Thursday in District Court to charges stemming from a standoff with law enforcement one month ago.

Justin Mark Seely, 42, pleaded guilty to the amended offense of criminal endangerment, Count I, a felony, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, Count II, a misdemeanor. The defense and state will jointly recommend a three-year deferred sentence on Count I and a six month suspended sentence on Count II. Both sentences will run concurrently, and Seely will be credited for serving 35 days in jail since the incident.

Seely originally faced a charge of assault with a weapon, a felony, after a three-hour standoff at the Wild Horse Hot Springs near the town of Hot Springs last month. Sheriff’s deputies from Lake and Sanders Counties and Tribal police responded to the call from Seely’s mother around 4:30 p.m. The woman, also the operator of the hot spring resort, reported that her son, Justin, fired three gunshots near his sister, who was in a different residence. All three live on the property but in different housing units. She reported that six guests were soaking in the bathhouse and that they were unaware of the situation.

Dozens of officers, approximately 25, from surrounding areas responded to the scene, waiting to determine how to apprehend the suspect. The Lake County Special Response Team was called as well, and shortly after 7 p.m., the suspect exited his fifth wheel camper and was taken into custody without incident. No one was injured and officers recovered a .22 caliber rifle and a marijuana pipe. Seely was severely intoxicated at the time of the incident and arrest, police said, and originally held on $20,000 bond.

Seely was released on his own recognizance after his hearing last week, and will be sentenced July 29.