Ailport pleads not guilty to arson, attempted homicide

A Pablo man, who was already facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon towards neighbors’ homes while high on methamphetamine, is facing new charges. Paul Glen Ailport, 64, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court on Jan. 18 to felony charges of attempted deliberate homicide, arson and criminal mischief.

According to court records, at about 9:20 the morning of Nov. 10, 2023, reports were made to Lake County emergency dispatchers of a truck “crashing into a residence.” The vehicle was engulfed in flames and the driver was slumped over inside the truck.

The reporting party indicated that it appeared as if the driver deliberately drove the truck into the residence and indicated that Ailport had previously threatened to drive his truck into his neighbor’s home on Paper Trail Road.

The property owner pulled Ailport from the truck after Ailport allegedly the homeowner to “shoot him in the head and put him out of his misery.” Ailport had burns on his back, shoulders, right arm and hand. He had to be transported to a burn unit in Utah for treatment.

An investigation revealed that Ailport may have been accelerating towards the victim’s house before the collision. Court records also document “severe fire damage to the northern wall and siding.”

A 19-year-old female, identified only by the initials A. S., was about to step into the shower when the collision propelled a steel beam (approximately 13.5 feet long and weighing 300 pounds), that was in the back of Ailport’s truck, through the wall, narrowly missing her head. She believed it was less than a foot away and would have killed her if it had struck her.

The investigation also led to the discovery of a 228 shot “Triple Cannon” firework that had fallen out of the truck and burn marks in the grass which appeared to be caused by exploding fireworks.

Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher presided over the arraignment hearing, but recused herself from taking the case, saying she was familiar with some of the witnesses. The case will be heard by Missoula District Court Judge John Larson. A trial date has not been set yet.

Ailport was already facing charges of criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, stemming from an incident July 13, 2023, when he allegedly fired a weapon towards neighbors’ homes while high on methamphetamine. He remains in the Lake County Jail with bond totaling $2,000,000 between the two matters.