Trial ordered in Clark Fork shooting

SANDPOINT - A Clark Fork teen accused of firing a shotgun blast at a vehicle containing five people was ordered to stand trial on felony assault and battery charges.

Larry Dean Flanigan Jr. was given the option of waiving a preliminary hearing in his case and pleading to a single count of aggravated battery, but he rejected the offer.

After hearing testimony from four witnesses, two of whom were struck by the gunfire, Judge Justin Julian found there was sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against Flanigan.

Flanigan, 19, is scheduled to be arraigned in 1st District Court on Jan. 3, 2012. He is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and three counts of aggravated assault.

Flanigan remains held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Julian declined a defense motion to reduce Flanigan's bail, although the motion can be renewed once he's bound over to district court.

The charges stem from a Dec. 6 confrontation north of Clark Fork. It began with glares at a high school basketball game, progressed to an exchange of mutually aggressive text messages and culminated with the peal of gunfire near Flanigan's home off East Mountainview Road, according to testimony given at the preliminary hearing.