After recovering from being shot by a sheriff’s deputy on Oct. 10, Michelle Gentry was in Flathead District Court Thursday to plead not guilty to felony assault on a peace officer.

Gentry, 54, was accompanied by family members and her two attorneys, while Flathead County Deputy Attorney Allison Howard was accompanied by a 4-inch-thick binder containing the Kalispell Police Department’s investigation report on the shooting.

That report is being kept secret by law enforcement officials.

Gentry was shot twice after allegedly pointing a handgun at SWAT team member Caleb Pleasants outside Gentry’s Eastland Crossing home near Columbia Falls Stage Road. The SWAT team had been dispatched after negotiators were unable to convince the reportedly suicidal Gentry to leave her home.

She finally came outside some time after the SWAT team showed up, at which point the shooting occurred.

She is currently released after posting a $10,000 cash bond.

If she is convicted, Gentry is facing between two and 10 years in the Montana State Prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

At the end of Thursday’s hearing, Howard requested that a condition be added to the rules of Gentry’s release barring her from drinking alcohol or entering any business where alcohol is a main item of sale, including liquor stores, bars and casinos. 

Howard said alcohol was involved in the Oct. 10 incident.

George Best, one of Gentry’s attorneys, said he normally would object to such a recommendation but in this case he would not since Gentry doesn’t drink alcohol.

District Judge Robert Allison then attached the condition to her release.

The next hearing in Gentry’s case is currently set for March 5.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].