Plea deal struck for woman accused of shooting at vehicle

Judge Molly Owen set a sentencing date of Nov. 11 for a Ronan woman who admitted to firing a weapon during a domestic dispute.

Lucy Laryn Smith-Cluff, 26, entered a plea of guilty to the amended charge of criminal endangerment during a change of plea hearing District Court in Polson Sept. 18.

Initially, she was charged with two counts of assault with a weapon. The plea was entered as part of a plea agreement that amended one the charges to criminal endangerment and will dismiss the second charge of assault with a weapon at sentencing. The agreement comes with a joint recommendation of deferring sentencing for three years. The judge is not bound to the agreement.

According to court records, on Feb. 24, Polson Police were dispatched to the parking lot of the Kwataqnuk Resort on a weapons complaint. At the scene, security staff of the resort led the responding officers to a man and woman, identified only by their initials, who indicated they were the victims of the complaint. 

The man, W. D., stated Smith-Cluff had followed them to the resort and drove through landscaping in an effort to cut the pair off in the parking lot. He said she was upset because he did not want to be with her anymore. 

Video surveillance at the resort allegedly shows Smith-Cluff fire two rounds into the hatch back of the vehicle W. D. had driven there. W. D. and the woman, K. F. can be seen ducking in the video when the shots were fired. 

Officers documented two bullet holes in the hatch of the car, with one lodging into the back seat, documents said. Smith-Cluff then fled south to Pablo where she was stopped by a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy. While en route back to the Lake County Jail, Smith-Cluff allegedly admitted to law enforcement to firing the two shots at W. D. and K. F.

During the change of plea hearing, Smith-Cluff pled guilty to firing one shot into the bumper of the car.