Bigfork man sentenced for partner assault

A Bigfork man with a history of assaulting those close to him received a sentence of five years, with three suspended, after pleading guilty to felony partner or family member assault in Lake County District Court on Thursday.

Judge Deborah Christopher reluctantly agreed to the sentence for Nicholas Charles Reum, 38, who has previous convictions for partner or family member assault in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010 and 2014.

Deputy Lake County Attorney Molly Owen explained that Reum is facing 20 years in Flathead County on revocation of suspended sentences for two cases, and the plea deal makes that revocation a near certainty. He also faces two years on a revocation in Lewis and Clark County. Owen also said the victim in the Lake County case was satisfied with the plea agreement because she just wants to move on.

Court documents indicate Reum sat on the victim and tried to choke her out about five separate times during an altercation at a Lake County home in June 2020. The victim eventually managed to get free and fled to a nearby fire hall.

“This looks like a classic case of persistent felony offender,” Judge Christopher said during sentencing. “With huge reservations … I’ll agree to it, but I’m not happy with it.”

Christopher ordered the sentence be served consecutively to any other sentences and barred Reum from contacting the victim. Reum received credit for 228 days served in jail, nearly all of which was served at the Lake County Detention Center.