A 30-year-old Kalispell man was given a six-month suspended sentence Thursday in Flathead District Court after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault.

Andrew Peterson originally was charged with felony assault with a weapon after  pulling a handgun on two men on March 15, 2012, during an argument outside of Paddy’s Touchdown Lounge.

A court document said Peterson pulled the slide back and pointed the gun at one of the men, at which point there was a struggle. The two men reportedly got the gun away from Peterson, who fled, leaving behind the backpack, which contained his ID.

Peterson later was arrested after calling 911 and reporting he had been assaulted by the two men.

The court document further stated that when Peterson was taken into custody, he admitted that the confrontation took place and admitted taking the gun out of the backpack but denied threatening the men with the gun.

In court Thursday, however, Peterson’s attorney stated there was a “substantial dispute” over the role of the weapon in the fight.

Peterson did admit that the gun was in his backpack since he was in the process of purchasing it from a former roommate and he did not have a concealed weapon permit. He also said he was unemployed and had been drinking at the time of the crime.

Before he was sentenced, Peterson told District Judge David Ortley that he was trying to change his life and now was regularly attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

In addition to his suspended sentence, Peterson was ordered to pay $275 in fines and surcharges.

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