A Kalispell man who tried to kill a Flathead County Sheriff’s deputy with a fusillade of bullets from an assault rifle just over a year ago now claims to have no memory of the incident.

Bryson Connolly, 20, on Thursday pleaded no contest to felony charges of attempted deliberate homicide and assault on a peace officer.

The plea came during a change-of-plea hearing in Flathead District Court.

In exchange for Connolly pleading no contest to the charges, two additional felony charges of assault with a weapon were dismissed. The Flathead County Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of 65 years with no opportunity for parole for the first 25 years. Connolly retains the right to argue for a lesser sentence.

Through questioning by defense attorney Jack Quatman, Connolly admitted being under the influence of bath salts on Aug. 19, 2011, when the incident occurred. The synthetic drug — which has effects comparable to methamphetamine with coinciding mental health risks — still was legal at the time.

Connolly claimed he did not remember anything after leaving a Patrick Creek Road home where he had allegedly threatened a resident with an AK-47, although he did not admit making the threat.

The next thing he remembered, Connolly said, was finding himself in a creek.

In between those two points of time, Connolly fled in his car from Flathead County Deputy Roger Schiff, who was responding to the threat report that came in at 4 p.m. After stopping once, then refusing to get out of his vehicle, Connolly again fled from Schiff.

When Connolly finally stopped again, he exited his car, got to one knee, leveled his rifle and fired at least 15 rounds at Schiff. Connolly’s gunfire struck Schiff’s vehicle several times, including one round that entered through the windshield into the passenger side.

Schiff was not injured other than minor cuts from the glass due to immediately putting his vehicle in reverse and backing away, crashing through a fence to get out of the line of fire.

Connolly escaped, and a massive manhunt ensued involving the Sheriff’s Office, Kalispell police, the Montana Highway Patrol, SWAT personnel and two aircraft, one equipped with thermal imaging technology.

He was finally apprehended without incident when a homeowner in the area of Airport Road called police at 11:30 p.m. to report a man had shown up at his front door wearing only underwear and a shirt. He let the man, who turned out to be Connolly, come inside until police showed up to take him into custody.

A sentencing hearing for Connolly has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 21, but may be rescheduled depending on the number of witnesses the prosecution and defense plan to call.

If District Judge Stewart Stadler chooses not to follow the plea agreement, Connolly could face up to 130 years or life in prison.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.