Third man pleads not guilty to assault
Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 3 months AGO
The last of three men charged in the assault of a man at the Ferndale Market has pleaded not guilty to felony aggravated assault.
Gaige Christopher Mower entered his plea Thursday in Flathead District Court.
Mower, Andrew Taylor Nelson and Ryan Horn are each charged with felony aggravated assault, while Nelson also faces a felony charge of assault with a weapon for allegedly hitting the victim, Antonio Valencia, with a golf club until it broke.
The incident apparently began as road rage that led to the three in one vehicle following Valencia to the market, where the alleged assault occurred. The incident was captured on a cellphone video and surveillance footage from the market, and a witness had also followed the two vehicles to the market and saw the assault.
Nelson and Horn, both 19, pleaded not guilty to their charges Aug. 1 in Flathead District Court.
If convicted of his charges, Nelson faces between two and 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, while Mower and Horn face between two and 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
Nelson is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his bond is set at $30,000. Mower is released after posting a $30,000 warrant. Horn was originally arrested on a $30,000 bond, but a judge ordered his release July 31.
The next hearing in all three men’s cases is set for Oct. 30.